Stoute Australia winner looks all class

Saeed Suhail’s Almania (2c Australia-Sent From Heaven, by Footstepsinthesand), a 500,000gns yearling, looked a colt destined for big things when landing a seven-furlong maiden at Sandown on Friday.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Australia colt had had one previous run in an Ascot maiden and was sent off odds-on favourite for his next start and showed real battling qualities to see off Buffalo River. The pair were seven lengths clear of the third.

“Almania is a nice horse and the penny is dropping,” said Philip Robinson, representing the winning owner. “He learned a lot at Ascot, but he's still learning, so I was quite happy the other horse took him on because he needed something to wake him up in the last furlong.

“Hopefully this will make a man of him. Next year is the main thing, so we'll see what Michael wants to do and how he comes out of it. He's going to want at least 1m2f next year.”

Almania holds entries in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes, G2 Royal Lodge and G2 Champagne Stakes and the Racing Post commented: “ALMANIA looked in need of this extra furlong when fourth of six on last month's Ascot debut and he certainly saw it out well, as he rallied for victory after the runner-up had gone past and seemed to have got the better of him. He looks the type to carry on improving.”

Almania was bred by Triermore Stud.