Rizeena is Queen of the fillies

Iffraaj’s progressive daughter Rizeena first caught the eye when winning the Listed National Stakes at Sandown in eyecatching fashion last month, and the Clive Brittain-trained filly took the step up to Group level in her stride when sweeping to victory in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Always travelling well under James Doyle (who partnered Dubawi’s Al Kazeem to victory in the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and then Exceed And Excel’s son Belgian Bill in the Hunt Cup earlier in the day), Rizeena quickened superbly during the closing stages and once in front, soon put the race to bed and eventually won by two lengths.

This was the third win in four starts for the filly who runs in the colours of Sheikh Rashid Dalmook al Maktoum and a further step up in class to G1 level now seems likely.

Bred by Roundhill Stud, she is the first winner out of Serena’s Storm, a half-sister to Shamardal’s G2 winner Puissance de Lune.

Iffraaj is also sire of the unbeaten Champion juvenile Wootton Bassett and New Zealand Champion Filly Fix.