In the colours of Mohamed bin Hamad Khalifa al-Attiyah, the three-year-old colt Kehailaan opened his scorecard in the Maiden Stakes over 1,600m for three-year-olds and older on the all-weather at Southwell on Thursday. Previously, Kehailaan debuted in February this year for a second place, before again finishing second next time out on March 2, both times at Newcastle on the all-weather.
Trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Ben Curtis, the colt was slowly into his stride from the starting stalls on Thursday. He had to make an effort in the first 100m to follow the leaders. Sitting on the outside behind the leader in fourth, he settled well before moving up into third. They began racing with still 800m left to run and Kehailaan showed plenty of courage to see off the leaders Artoc Emperor and Helm Rock. In the final 100m, he surged clear with a late acceleration to win by two lengths and a quarter in front of the Archie Watson-trained and Hollie Doyle-ridden Artoc Emperor. Helm Rock finished further three-and-a-half lengths behind in third for trainers Daniel & Claire Kubler with Kieran O'Neill in the saddle.
Kehailaan was bought as a yearling by his trainer at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale. His sire, Gleneagles was a dual Guineas winner for Coolmore. Kehailaan is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Deforst My Heart, who was placed at Stakes Level.