Al Raya upholds Queen Mary form with smooth success in Prix d'Arenberg

Al Raya continued the fine run of owner Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa with his juvenile fillies, repelling the late challenges of Divine Spirit and Flaming Princess to score a first black-type success in the Group 3 Prix d'Arenberg.

Sheikh Nasser's red and white silks were carried to Royal Ascot success by Daahyeh in the Albany Stakes and Al Raya, fifth in the Queen Mary and, more recently, only narrowly beaten at Listed level, made virtually all under Pierre-Charles Boudot.

The daughter of Siyouni has competed over the minimum distance on all six starts to date and, though she holds an entry in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket over six furlongs, Simon Crisford believes this is her ideal trip.

"It was fantastic to see Al Raya win and she is very deserving," said Crisford. "She has run consistently well at the highest level all campaign and it's nice to see her win a Group race.

"She's got a lot of natural speed and she keeps going hard all the way to the line. We don't have any immediate plans but her owner, Sheikh Nasser, is delighted and she is just a very nice filly."

He added: "I would say five furlongs is her trip, she has a lot of early speed and I think this is pretty much as far as she wants to go. We don't have any immediate plans but we’ll talk to her owner and see what we're going to do."

The Charlie Appleby-trained Divine Spirit showed improved form when closing to three-quarters of a length having been one of the first off the bridle at half way.

Third-placed Flaming Spirit was a Listed winner at Deauville on her previous start, having edged out Al Raya by a neck when the pair made their debuts at Nottingham in June.

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