Alakazi set for step up in class at Ascot Alakazi was part of a lucrative Irish Champions Festival for Johnny Murtagh and the trainer is eyeing further gains in Ascot next month for the three-year-old colt. The son of Footstepsinthesand built upon three placed efforts in Pattern company when landing the Group 2 Solonaway Stakes by a length and a-quarter in Leopardstown. Murtagh said: “He’s very well. We’re targeting Champions Day at Ascot, the mile (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes). “He’s won a Group 2 now, so we want to try and see if he can progress again. “He seems to be coming along well. We’ve a couple of weeks to go now, but he’s in great shape and came out of his last race well.” Murtagh enjoyed three winners over Irish Champions Festival with Rahmi and Shaool also taking the honours. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
