The win is the second in four starts for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Ameerat, coming in her 3-year-old debut. As a juvenile, she finished second in the Rothmans Royals May Hill Stakes (Eng-III) and sixth in the Owen Brown Rockfel Stakes (Eng-II). (Chart, Sporting Life)
Michael Jarvis-trained Ameerat dueled for the lead with Muwakleh through the final furlong of the one-mile Sagitta One Thousand Guineas (GB-I) Sunday at Newmarket, earning a neck-length victory in the first British Classic of the year for fillies. Ameerrat's win earned Jarvis his first British classic wins and the third for jockey Philip Robinson."That's my first British classic in 33 years and it is a great thrill," Jarvis told Sporting Life.Ameerat was sent off at odds of 11-1 and completed the distance in 1:38.36 on good turf, rated good to firm in places.Robinson doubts the bay daughter of Mark of Esteem -- Walimu, by Top Ville, can give Jarvis a second classic win in the 1 1/2-mile Oaks, citing possible distance limitations."I'd be very doubtful," he told Sporting Life. "I'd like to think she would get a mile and a half because when you've got that sort of speed she'd be a remarkable filly. But I'd have some big doubts."Torca finished third, 1 3/4 lengths farther back. Crystal Music came home fourth in the 15-horse field. 9-2 favorite Karasta finished a disappointing 13th for trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
