Group 2 Success For Progressive Footstepsinthesand Colt

Alakazi (3c Footstepsinthesand - Alaiya, by Sea The Stars) gained a deserved first Pattern victory in the Group 2 Solonaway Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

The Johnny Murtagh-trained colt settled behind the leaders and was asked to close from two furlongs out. Alakazi duly responded to Ben Coen’s urging to win by a length and a quarter. Back in third was Comanche Brave (by Wootton Bassett).

A son of Footstepsinthesand, the Aga Khan Studs homebred had placed three times in black-type company since his seven-and-a-half-length maiden success at Leopardstown back in April.

Murtagh said: “You dream about days like today. I’ve been telling Pat Downes all year how good this horse was. He was a bit of a work in progress. He was a bit aggressive earlier in the year, Ben was saying he’s not on the bridle or off the bridle.

“His last few bits of work have been great; he’s learning on the job. We were a little bit disappointed he didn’t win the last time, but we knew coming here that he was going to be a different proposition.

“He’s a beautiful horse and a beautiful horse to train. I think he can go all the way."

On future targets, Murtagh added: “He’s in at Ascot. He probably doesn’t want the ground too soft, and Ben said he handled that ground really well. I think he deserves a shot at it; he’s after winning a Group 2. I’d love to keep him for next year as well.”