Fifteen-year-old Royal Applause had a wonderful year with his juveniles in 2007 with 25 winners putting him in fifth place overall in the two-year-old sires’ table. Of those already out of the gates in 2008, Finjaan looks like a colt with a bright future.
It would seem his maiden win in a five-furlong event at Newmarket on1000 Guineas day was not necessarily expected by connections. One of two representatives for Sheikh Hamdan in the race, Finjaan ran in the second colours while the more seasoned Ouqba, the eventual runner-up, was sent off favourite.
The race was labelled by the Racing Post as ‘potentially one of the best two-year-old maidens run this year’ and Finjaan’s trainer Marcus Tregoning, who said he had done very little with the well-built colt to date, feels there is a great deal more to come from him.
With a run in between likely, Finjaan now has Royal Ascot in his sights, though a decision on whether he will run in the five-furlong Norfolk Stakes or in the Coventry over six will not be reached until after his next start.
Bred by Shadwell Estate Company, Finjaan is out of the Dayjur mare Alhufoof, a six-furlong winner at two. Her half-sister Amanah is the dam of 1000 Guineas winner Lahan and Alhufoof has herself produced Fustaan, a winning full-brother to Finjaan. The mare also has a yearling filly by Dubai Destination.
