Mile targets for last year's Derby fifth Hazapour

H H the Aga Khan's Hazapour won last year's Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes before appearing to run out of stamina at Epsom, coming home fifth behind Masar in the Investec Derby. He dropped back to a mile at Leopardstown this afternoon, won the Group 3 Comer Group International Amethyst Stakes and could appear next in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot.

This was the shortest race in which he has run since finishing unplaced on his debut in a seven-furlong Curragh maiden as a two-year-old, a month before he beat Hunting Horn in an eight-and-a-half-furlong maiden at Galway. It was his third run since Epsom, and his second of those to see him finish in the frame.

Last month he finished a well-beaten fifth behind Magical in the Group 3 Alleged Stakes over 10 furlongs at Naas, and although his entries include the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, trainer Dermot Weld indicated at Leopardstown that the colt would now seek Group 2 or Group 1 prizes at a mile. He is engaged in next month's Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over that trip.

Today's win was achieved by a margin of two and a half lengths from Verbal Dexterity, with Zihba a half-length back in third, the same distance back to Dunkirk Harbour in fourth, and the another half-length to Zuenoon – a stablemate of the winner – in fifth. Oisin Orr was the successful jockey.

Full replay and reaction: Hazapour provides Dermot Weld with his eighth victory in the Comer Group International Amethyst Stakes @LeopardstownRC >>>https://t.co/JF3XTFBVbV pic.twitter.com/zgoDKejPNH

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 12, 2019

Hazapour is a son of the dual classic star and outstanding Kildangan Stud stallion Shamardal (by Giant's Causeway) and of Listed Finale Stakes winner Hazarafa (by Daylami). With her having been a middle-distance stakes winner and half-sister to dual Derby hero Harzand (by Sea The Stars) it was reasonable to hope that her colt might also prove to be a capable middle-distance horse.

However, the mare's siblings also include the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes winner and Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes third Harasiya (by Pivotal), and she is out of the Group 3 Athasi Stakes winner Hazariya (by Xaar), so there was always a chance that she could get one more suited to a mile, especially if by a stallion like Shamardal.

Hazapour's three-parts brother Haripour (by Shamardal) has won a listed contest over that trip in Australia, although he has also landed one over 12 furlongs and came within a neck of taking a Group 3 contest there over ten.

Hazariya is a half-sister to Hazarista (by Barathea), who won the Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes and picked up third in both the Group 1 Irish Oaks and Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks, but the mix of stakes winners who descend from her dam, Hazaradjat (by Darshaan), also include seven-furlong Group 3 scorer Hamairi (by Spectrum) and his stakes-winning sprint half-brother Hanabad (by Cadeaux Genereux), and Group 1 British Champions Fillies & Mare Stakes heroine Seal Of Approval (by Authorized).

There is a similar mixture of speed and stamina to be found under Hazapour's fourth dam too. She is Hazy Idea (by Hethersett), who won the March Stakes, was runner-up in the Prix de Royallieu and fourth in the Prix Royal-Oak. She was the dam of the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and Group 1 Flying Childers Stakes star Hittite Glory (by Habitat), and her descendants include Group 1 AJC Oaks winner Streama (by Stratum).

It will be interesting to see how far up the rankings Hazapour can go now that his apparently ideal distance has been found. His relationship to Harzand could make him an eye-catching stallion prospect – should he go on to earn that role – as would his being by the sire of Lope De Vega, although he would surely need to become at least a Group 1-placed Group 2 winner first, if not a winner at the highest level.