When a horse is second again and again their attitude begins to be questioned by some. Al Nafoorah took the trip up to Wetherby this afternoon to contest the 1m fillies’ handicap after four consecutive seconds but we had never questioned our fillies’ attitude. She has had a tendency to be too keen early on in her races, her enthusiasm being a fault that has cost her late on in her races.
We were given the favoured number one draw at Wetherby, a track that often favours front runners and so after jumping well Graham Lee was able to dictate an easy lead in the early part of the race. Al Nafoorah enjoyed herself at the head of affairs and was soon setting a sensible pace and importantly she did so travelling nicely without fighting her rider. She lengthened from two furlongs out and never looked in danger as she found plenty and saw out the mile trip well.
The handicapper will have his say now and move our filly to a mid-seventies rating but is was fantastic to see her finishing her race so well and this was a much deserved first victory for the daughter of Bated Breath. She is a tough filly who has taken her racing well and has been extremely consistent. If she continues to relax going forward then she may get 10f in time given she is out of a Motivator mare and that may unlock further improvement.
Congratulations to Mr Mohammed Jaber who is the owner of Al Nafoorah. We are very relieved and delighted that your filly has shed her Maiden tag and we hope we can train you many more winners in the second half of the season. We have now had four winners in the last eight days and the horses are starting to hit top form. Well done to everyone here at La Grange, the hard work is paying off and long may it continue to.