Never further back than second in eleven starts, the exciting stayer Eliyass (FR) kept his Australian record at a perfect three for three in Saturday’s Group III James Squire Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
Ridden by Tim Clark for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the lightly raced son of Le Havre (IRE) chased down his Epsom Derby-winning stablemate Serpentine (IRL) at the 250m before holding the finish of the fast-finishing Ceolwulf (Tavistock) by a long-neck with the in-form Golden Path (Belardo) two lengths back in third.
“He's got a great constitution and will to win,” Adrian Bott said.
“It was a good staying test, and he was exposed for quite a while.
“So, for him to dig deep once again, it just shows those true staying qualities that he's got.
“I've got a lot of confidence in this horse and no doubt that there's still more upside and more progression. It was a month between runs, and we've got some big targets for him, not just the Metropolitan.
“He's got nominations for some bigger races as well. So, we've always tried to keep a bit in the tank for those going forward. I'd like to think there's more upside, and he will keep progressing for us.”
A Listed stakes-winner in France, Eliyass (FR) opened his Australian account in the Listed Lord Mayors Cup before capturing the Group III Premier’s Cup. The 6-year-old gelding advances his record to nine wins and two seconds from eleven starts with earnings of $428,732.
Aga Khan Stud offered the son of French Derby winner Le Havre (Noverre) at the Arqana Arc Sale for horses in training with Astute Bloodstock having the final say at €330,000.
Eliyass is the best of three winners from four to race for Edilisa, a winning half-sister by Azamour to Group III winner Edelmira, a grand-daughter of stakes-winning blue hen Ebaziya, the dam of four Group I winners Enzeli, Estimate, Ebadiyla and Edabiya and the granddam of multiple Group 1 winner and Group 1 placed Eziwyra (Teofilo), the dam of the Aga Khan’s 2024 Epsom Oaks winner Ezeliya.
