18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure

A'ali to join Sapphire contenders

A'aliA'ali
© Photo Healy Racing

Recent Sandown scorer A’ali is set to be supplemented for this weekend’s Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.

The son of Society Rock claimed a hat-trick of Group Two wins as a two-year-old last season, landing the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Prix Robert Papin at Deauville and the Flying Childers at Doncaster.

He signed off his juvenile campaign with a run at the Breeders’ Cup, where he was done no favours by the draw, and while he was down the field on his reappearance at Newcastle, he returned to his best with victory in the Group Three Coral Charge at Sandown on Eclipse day.

He will now return to Group Two level in Ireland, with Ed Crisford, who trains A’Ali in partnership with his father, Simon, saying: “The plan is to supplement A’ali for the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

“He seems to have come out of the Sandown race really well and a stiff five furlongs at the Curragh should suit him perfectly.

“Battaash is going for a fourth win a row in that race down the hill at Goodwood (King George Stakes), so we’ll head to Ireland instead — and depending on how he gets on, we might meet Battaash in the Nunthorpe at York next month.”