It’s time to pause and reflect on what has been an excellent season for OSL purchases throughout Europe and America, with many winners across the year.
Naamoos, kicked off the season in style by winning the Esher Cup at Sandown by three lengths off top weight in a group class performance, before finishing 8th in a vintage edition of the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on his next start. His performance at Ascot was brilliant and demonstrative of a horse still improving, and we hope he can continue that when he moves to Dubai over the winter.
Line Of Departure then followed up Naamoos’s early victories and gained a huge step forward on his 2YO form when taking the Listed Cathedral City Stakes at Salisbury by 2 lengths from a field that included confirmed stakes horses such as Khaadem, Shine So Bright & Mum’s Tipple. He then improved again when finishing only 5 lengths off Starman in the Group 1 July Cup. He’s another going off to the sun of Dubai over the winter and if he can transfer his considerable ability out there then he’ll be a serious force to be reckoned with.
Rohaan went from strength to strength and completed a stunning string of victories that include the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes at Ascot and the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock before posting what was without doubt a Group 1 level performance when winning the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot off a huge OR of 112. He then continued to run with credit in Group 1 races for the rest of the season and there is certainly no limit to what he could achieve in his future.
Then the matriarch of OSL purchases, Waliyak, who has done nothing but improve since she was purchased by OSL as a yearling in 2018, posted some fantastic performances when placing. This included in the Kensington Palace Stakes at the royal meeting, the Group 3 Valiant Stakes & then giving future Group 1 winner Saffron Beach a real fright in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes when finishing a close second whilst conceding weight. This was before she won The Listed Dick Hern Stakes at Haydock and the Group 3 Prix Bertrand De Tarragon at Chantilly, and then posted a career best in her first attempt at Group 1 level when coming a close fourth in the E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, she’ll remain in the States over the winter.
The 2yo’s also did their part & Team OSL can definitely look forward to 2022 with some extremely exciting prospects having come through. Fast Attack proved herself one of the best juvenile fillies around when winning the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket, she’ll certainly have classic aspirations next year!
Mitbaahy confirmed himself a solid pattern class performer across the season and earned himself a rating of 97, and given his pedigree he’ll do nothing but improve which puts him right in the mix of group races next year.
Akhu Najla, the 2.7 million Guinea half-brother to Galileo Gold, ran a race full of promise when finishing second in a Leicester maiden and will certainly improve for the winter.
Eldar Eldarov won a maiden at Nottingham by five lengths and there’s no doubt he has group races on his horizon.
After all of this we head to the Middle East for the winter series buoyed with the thrill of success and hope that we can pick up there where we left off in Europe.