Seven years ago Shadwell Stud’s two-year-old Shamardal (USA) filly Bulbula won the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes for trainer David Hayes and did not win another race in 13 starts, so the same connections will be hoping that Bulbula’s daughter Aryaaf can build on her hugely impressive debut in the Group III Darley Ottawa Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
Ridden by Luke Nolen, the daughter of Epaulette overcame a check at the 300 metres then preceded to run all over the track but still proved a length and three-quarter too good for the I Am Invincible filly Muntaseera who overcame a slow start to finish two and three-quarter lengths ahead of her stablemate, the Deep Field filly Marchena.
Aryaaf makes a winning career debut in Ottawa Stakes - image Grant Courtney
Nolen said Aryaaf will improve with time.
“She was a little wayward when I asked her to fully extend but she possesses real nice ability and she is still quite small so she is going to furnish into a real nice filly given time,” Nolen said.
Co-trainer David Hayes celebrated his 54th win at the Melbourne Cup carnival, overtaking TJ Smith and behind only Bart Cummings, Colin Hayes and Lee Freedman.
“She was a very impressive winner and I know she will run 1200 metres because she did today,” Hayes said.
“I just love winning for Sheikh Hamden who has been a great supporter over a lot of years,” Hayes added following his last Flemington carnival before again taking up training in Hong Kong.
A Shadwell homebred that was foaled and raised at Yarraman Park, Aryaaf is the first winner from two to race out of Bulbula (Shamardal) who in addition to her Merson Copper Stakes win placed in the Group III VRC Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, Group III MRC Thoroughbred Club Stakes and Group III SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes.
Aryaaf is a three-quarter sister to the Group III VRC Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes winner Khulaasa (Epaulette) who is out of the Listed SAJC Walter Brown Stakes and Listed MVRC William Crockett Stakes winner Taameer (General Nediym).
Bulbula has a yearling filly from the penultimate crop of Sebring and foaled a Snitzel colt on October 13.
Aryaaf becomes the 12th stakes-winner for Darley Stud’s Golden Rose Stakes winner Epaulette (Commands).
