Royal Applause is well known for siring speedy juveniles and Sheikh Hamdan’s Habaayib became the latest star to emerge for the Darley stallion with an impressive victory in the G3 Albany Stakes at Ascot.
Held up towards the rear under Richard Hills, the Ed Dunlop-trained filly set sail for the home with two furlongs left to run. Demonstrating an impressive turn of foot, Habaayib took the lead with a furlong left to run and simply could not be caught, winning going away by a length-and-a-quarter from 11-8 favourite Lillie Langtry with Chachamaidee a further two-and-a-half lengths back in third. Dubawi's daughter Curtains (who became her sire’s second winner earlier this month) ran on well to finish fifth.
Royal Applause has sired five juvenile winners in 2009 including Corporal Maddox, who won the Listed Woodcote Stakes on Derby day at Epsom, and Dream Deer who followed up a successful racecourse debut with a fourth place in the Listed Rochestown Stakes last weekend.
Later on Royal Ascot's Friday card, Holberg (Halling) provided trainer Mark Johnston with his fifth victory in the G3 Queen's Vase, recording a superb four-length win over Yankee Doodle with Sulamani's Italian Derby winner Mastery taking third place.
Holberg, who runs in the colours of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum, was bred in the UAE and is out of the Stakes-placed mare Sweet Willa, who is also dam of another G3 winner in Undermine.
Also on Friday, Cape Cross recorded a new Stakes winner when three-year-old filly Valletta took the Listed Derby du Languedoc at Toulouse.
