Owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, Ibraz shaped with distinct promise when finishing third in the Alex Scott Maiden on his reappearance at Newmarket and he built on that form upped a furlong in trip here, getting off the mark at the third time of asking with a length and a quarter success under Jim Crowley.
The David Menusier-trained History Writer finished second, while there was the same margin back to the Martyn Meade-trained Infrastructure in third, and with an overall time a fraction below standard this looks a decent piece of form for the level.
A 100,000 guineas yearling purchase from the first crop of Farhh, Ibraz is out of a half-sister to the dam of G1 Breeder’s Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Queen’s Best and his performance this afternoon suggested he will be well suited by middle distances in due course.
Roger said: “Ibraz travelled smoothly today and he saw the trip out well. He probably only did enough when he got to the front and I think he will continue to progress with time and racing. He’s a nice prospect.”
A little over an hour later, Rasima also shed her maiden tag with a battling success under Champion Apprentice David Egan.
Owned by Mr Nurlan Bizakov, Rasima was agonisingly denied in a seven-furlong fillies’ novice at Wolverhampton last month but she was on the favoured end of a tight finish today, repelling the late challenge of Daddies Girl by to win by a neck on her fifth racecourse outing.
A homebred daughter of Iffraaj from the family of G1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Chinese White and G1 Prix de Diane heroine Rafha, Rasima unsurprisingly improved for the step up to a mile and she, too, looks capable of further progress across the course of the summer.
Roger said: “Rasima bumped into a very good filly on her seasonal reappearance and she was a little unfortunate to be run down late last time. The step up in trip and switch to turf seemed to suit and she would probably be better with a lead for longer. She should remain feasibly handicapped when reassessed.”