Alakazi to remain in training next season Alakazi, who was a highly-creditable third in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, will remain in training as a four-year-old next season trainer Johnny Murtagh has confirmed. The Footstepsinthesand colt kept on in the final furlong to be beaten just over a length a-quarter by the winner Cicero's Gift last Saturday. Murtagh said: “He ran great, at the furlong pole I thought we had a real chance. “Ben (Coen) said he could have probably done with them going a stride quicker all the way. They seemed to go slow and it was a bit of a sprint. “He did very well and he’s going to be in training next year. He’s a good horse. “On a few runs early in the year, we kind of sacrificed by dropping him in and getting him relaxed. He’s really good now. “When he won his maiden here (Leopardstown) by seven lengths, I thought he had the makings of being a good horse. You don’t win maidens in Ireland by seven lengths if you’re not Group class and he has improved right through the year.” On his penultimate start, Alakazi landed the Group 2 Solonaway Stakes at Leopardstown. Murtagh also advised that his Group 3 winner Zahrann has been sold and is off to Australia. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
