A'Ali sparkles for Colin Keane in Sapphire duel with Make A Challenge

Make A Challenge put up a spirited defence but in the end A’Ali confirmed his considerable sprinting potential to secure another win for British-based horses in the Sapphire Stakes under man of the moment Colin Keane.

As the field crashed from the stalls, Make A Challenge was smartly away and travelled strongly on the front end over on the far side. In contrast, A’Ali, who had been supplemented for the five-furlong Group 2, missed the kick and the response wasn’t immediate when Keane asked him to pick up two furlongs down on the near side.

However, last year’s Norfolk, Robert Papin and Flying Childers Stakes hero possesses a pretty visceral turn of foot, and he eventual began to motor. He changed his legs dramatically a furlong out, and steadily ate up the ground to mow down Make A Challenge, again leaving Denis Hogan frustrated in his quest for a breakthrough Group winner.

A’Ali surged past the line with a length to spare from Make A Challenge, with John Grogan’s Rapid Reaction picking up valuable black type in third. It was a fifth win for a British-based horse in the race in the last six years.

A first runner in Ireland for the father-and-son partnership of Simon and Ed Crisford, the three-year-old certainly impressed Keane, who was standing in for Frankie Dettori and still sported a wide beam following his Irish Oaks success on Even So the previous night.

“He felt like a smart, progressive horse. He as very straightforward, very easy – he didn’t take too much riding,” Keane said of A’Ali, who returned the evens favourite.

“We went along early doors and I kind of stayed straight and out on the freshest of the ground on my side. When he got it together going by the two, he really picked up well and ran to the line well.”

With the 14-day quarantine measures prohibiting the Crisfords from attending, future plans remain unsure for A’Ali, although next month's Nunthorpe Stakes had already been mooted and he was cut to 8-1 from 10-1 by Paddy Power for the York Group 1.

At present, his only remaining entry is back at the Curragh in the Flying Five on Irish Champions Weekend. On the basis of this performance, he will be a serious contender at Group 1 level, wherever he turns up.

Full result and replay

This race report is being updated and more news will follow shortly.