Close relation to Royal Ascot winner Aljazzi set for Southwell debut on Thursday

Our resident bloodstock experts profile the well-bred eyecatchers and expensive purchases set to grace the track.

Gamrai

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What's the story?

Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud introduces a well-bred newcomer at Southwell on Thursday in the form of Gamrai. The two-year-old Lope De Vega colt is from a family very much in the headlines at present – more of that below – and looks one of the more likely newcomers for the Gosden stable.

How's he bred?

Gamrai is the eighth foal out of the dual Listed-winning Danehill Dancer mare Nouriya, a half-sister to black-type performers Yuften and Lady Nouf, as well as Bella Nouf. The last-named was a dual winner herself but is better known as the dam of this year's Duke of Cambridge Stakes scorer and Prix de l'Opera second Running Lion, plus fellow Group winner Majestic Glory. 

Nouriya is out of King's Best mare Majestic Sakeena, a half-sister to Listed scorer Shy Lady, herself the dam of St James's Palace and Mill Reef winner Zafeen. 

Newsells Park's Frankel filly out of Aljazzi stuns at Park PaddocksCredit: Tattersalls

Gamrai is a three-parts brother to another Duke of Cambridge winner in Aljazzi, whose Frankel yearling filly topped last month's Tattersalls Book 1 at 4.4 million guineas. She was bought by Kia Joorabchian on a bonanza day at Park Paddocks. Half-sibling Majestic Noor, by Frankel, had struck in Listed company at Yarmouth but was subsequently disqualified due to a prohibited substance. 

Who does he face?

The colt's nine rivals include the Waldgeist-sired Atlantic Sunset, another with a very recent pedigree. The 100,000gns Book 1 graduate was bred by Vimal and Gillian Khosla out of their wonderful broodmare Green Room, the dam of Oaks scorer Forever Together and her Fillies' Mile-winning Galileo sister Together Forever. The last-named is of course responsible for 2023 champion two-year-old and champion three-year-old elect City Of Troy, while another Group 1-winning relation is Prix Jean Prat scorer Lord Shanakill.

Another interesting debutant is Wolfpack, Qatar Racing's son of leading first-season sire and Guineas hero Kameko. His dam, by Lope De Vega, won at Listed level and was also Group-placed for Joseph O'Brien, including when second in the Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial

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