Aqlaam's Alward Earns a Belated Stakes Win

Mark Smith - Saturday November 30

With nearly half the field it was no surprise to see a Chris Waller runner claim Saturday’s Listed ATC Cup (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens and it was the connections of the favoured Alward (IRL) who took home the trophy.

Given a peach of a ride by Hugh Bowman, Alward (IRL) struck the front inside the 300 metres and was untroubled to defeat his stablemate Black Gold (Sebring) by one and three-quarter lengths with the Joe Pride-trained Tamarack (Redwood) a short-half-head back in third.

Two years back Alward (IRE) raced through his classes with four wins in five starts but it’s been lean pickings since. He has shown improved form since sent to Waller’s Gold Coast stable and was coming off a win over 2000 metres at Doomben.

"It has been a while between drinks but he found winning form in Queensland and has come down in great condition," Waller told AAP.

"He arrived earlier this week and obviously the team up there do a pretty good job.

"The change of scenery for the horse just keeps them interested and Hugh Bowman gave him a beautiful ride.

Waller said he favoured the Summer Cup (2000m) on Boxing Day for Alward (IRE) rather than the Christmas Cup (2400m).

Advertisement

"I'd like to keep him around the same distance so I'm thinking the Summer Cup," he said.

"There is the Christmas Cup in two weeks but I don't really think he gets 2400m.

The 7yo gelding advances his record to 8 wins, 5 seconds and 4 thirds from 39 starts with earnings of $619,027.

Alward (IRE) is the best of four winners from five to race out of the winning Pivotal mare Sharedah who is a three-quarter sister to the stakes winner Laraaib and a half-sister to Maraahel (Alzao) who won two runnings of the Group II Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Alward (IRE) becomes the seventh stakes-winner for Shadwell Stud’s short-lived Oasis Dream stallion Aqlaam.

Advertisment

Race Result - Atc Cup LR 2000m

Rosehill Track: Good(4) Time: 2:03.44
1
Alward
- 7g Aqlaam (GB) x Sharedah (IRE) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Bowman 56
2
1.8
Black On Gold
- 6g Sebring (AUS) x Fools Gold (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 55
Sebring
3
1.9
Tamarack
- 6g Redwood (GB) x Our Squeezer (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: C Reith 54
4
2.1
Taikomochi
- 6g Snitzel (AUS) x Geisha (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56
5
2.2
High Bridge
- 9g Monsun (GER) x Ameerat (GB) (Mark Of Esteem (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Ford 53.5
6
2.3
Emperor's Way
- 6g Roman Emperor (NZ) x Laylia (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Rachel King 55
7
3.1
Naval Warfare
- 6g Born To Sea (IRE) x Three Days In May (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: G Schofield 54
8
3.2
Morton's Fork
- 6g Ad Valorem (USA) x Dilemmas (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Richard Litt Rdr: N Rawiller 55
9
5.7
Tumultuous
- 6g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Boisterous Lady (AUS) (Rivotious (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: O Orr 56.5
10
5.9
House Of Cartier
- 4m Alamosa (NZ) x Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: B Avdulla 53.5
11
6.1
Artarmon
- 5g So You Think (NZ) x Aljumar (IRE) (Marju (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 53
12
14.5
Admire Winner
- 6g Workforce (GB) x Song Bird (JPN) (Dance In The Dark (JPN))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 54
13
21.8
Grey Lion
- 8g Galileo (IRE) x Grey Lilas (IRE) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 59
More Reading...
Blueblood Filly a Third Winner for Tagaloa
Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa is one of the more affordable sires on the Yulong roster and he sired his third winner at Bendigo on Thursday when well bred filly Teine Aulelia made a winning debut.
Do Early Winners Equate to Long Term Stud Success?
As we move towards the end of the racing season, attention invariably focuses on first season sires and who will be the leader of the cohort by winners and it’s a close run race this year, but does any of it matter in the grand scheme of things?
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Kaha Nui Swoop on Pinhook Prospects
Successful pinhookers Kaha Nui Farm were to the fore at Karaka on Thursday, and were rewarded with the crown of leading buyer at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Profondo Weanlings Impress
The first progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Profondo made a favourable impression during the NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka on Thursday.
Mulberry Racing Secure Everest Slot
Racing NSW today announced that Mulberry Racing has secured a slot in the $20 million TAB Everest for a term of three years commencing with the running of this year’s race.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Tops NZB Weanling Sale
Little Avondale stallion Per Incanto’s outstanding season carried on in the Karaka sale ring on Thursday, where his weanling colt fetched a sale-topping $190,000 in the opening hour of the NZB National Weanling Sale.
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!