Azamour's Aloisia Powers to Victory in the One Thousand Guineas

Mark Smith - Saturday October 14

Second in last season's Group I JJ Atkins Stakes at Doomben back in June, former New Zealander Aloisia took to the big stage in Saturday's Group I MRC Thousand Guineas (1600m) where she earned trainer Aaron Purcell his first winner at the highest level.

Placed at Trentham in two starts at two in New Zealand, Aloisia caught the eye of bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo who negotiated her sale to OTI Racing.

She was sent to Ciaron Maher for whom she won first-up over 1400 metres at Flemington encouraging connections to take the quantum leap to the Group I JJ Atkins Stakes at Doomben where she had little luck when second to Capital Gain.

Aloisia was again out of luck at her 3yo bow when a close-up fifth over 1400 metres at Caulfield.

Following Ciaron Maher's 6 month suspension, Aaron Purcell took over the running of the stable.


If she did not have the rub of the green in those two races she more than made up for it in the Thousand Guineas.

Under a rails-hugging ride by Luke Nolen, Aloisia came from midfield without having to go around a horse.

The daughter of Azamour hit the line strongly to defeat Shoals (Fastnet Rock) by one and a quarter lengths with Alizee (Sepoy) three-quarters of a length back in third.   (photo Grant Courtney)

"I obviously took over a stable that was in great shape.

"I've known Ciaron and his staff for a long time and I know how they go about things and the procedures and how professional how they go about things.

"I was confident that if I let the guys do their job the results are going to come.

OTI's Terry Henderson revealed how he came out owning the daughter of Azamour.

"Thanks to (bloodstock agent) Phil Cataldo back in New Zealand who selected this horse for us and said you should buy it," Henderson revealed.

"To put it in the Maher stable and now the Purcell stable is really satisfying.

"It's lovely to buy them when they are not too expensive and come out and win Group Ones 12 months later."



Aloisia comes from the first and final New Zealand conceived crop left by the Aga Khan's Night Shift stallion Azamour who won the St James's Palace Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes as a three-year-old, before taking the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes as a four-year-old.

Retired to Gilltown Stud in 2006, Azamour shuttled for the first time to Brighthill Stud in New Zealand for the Southern Hemisphere season in 2013.

Tragically he died the following year at Gilltown Stud.

One of the 75 mares he covered at Brighthill was the stakes-placed Perfectly Ready mare Queen Boudicca, the dam of Aloisia and a 2yo filly by Keeper named Wyetta and a yearling colt by Swiss Ace.

Queen Boudicca was covered by Dalghar (FR) last spring. 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Ilovethiscity Fee Slightly Reduced - Winning Double on Monday
Ilovethiscity, winner of the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, and producer of Group 1 two-year-old El Dorado Dreaming will stand the 2024 breeding season at Noor Elaine Farm and is in hot form with a winning double on Monday.
New 2YO Stakes-winner Blue Point
Returning to Darley Victoria this spring, Blue Point (IRE) sired his first two year-old stakes-winner this year in the Northern Hemisphere when Tiego the First took out the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure (1400m) at Chantilly.
Aussie Owners Share in German Derby Victory
The Group I German Derby (2400m) was run at Hamburg on Sunday with victory going to Gleneagles colt Palladium, who runs for Liberty Racing 2022 and has a pedigree that has a significant Australian offshoot.
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 7
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Mares in Foal to Per Incanto Highlight National Online Breeding Stock Sale
Little Avondale Stud is offering five mares in the National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, including a pair of well-credentialled mares carrying foals by the stud’s high-flying sire Per Incanto.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 8
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Familiar Pedigree Makes Early Running at JRHA Select Sale
A colt from the family of Saturday’s Listed Belmont Oaks heroine Petrouchka made the early running as the yearling session of the JRHA Select Sale got underway at Northern Horse Park, Hokkaido on Monday.
Good Times Keep Rolling at Mapperley
Mapperley Stud’s Simms Davison has enjoyed a memorable season with results to savour on and off the track.
Kiwi Blueblood Wins on Debut
Royally bred three-year-old Twain couldn’t have been more impressive on debut at Tauranga on Sunday, winning the Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga (1200m) for John Bell.
Aussie Coolmore Sires Combine for New French G1 Winner
The Group I Prix Jean Prat (1400m) at Deauville for three year-olds has been won in the past by the likes of Too Darn Hot, Pinatubo and Laws of Indices, who found his way to Australia, and this year’s winner Puchkine combines the blood of two stallions on the Coolmore Australia roster this spring.