The 2-year-old filly NIGHT CANDLE (FR) (Mehmas x Epatha) notched her first win at Windsor on Monday, 7 June, evening. Carrying the Al Shaqab Racing silks, the filly was making her third racecourse appearance following a promising 4th on her debut at Salisbury on May 13, and a strong-finishing second place last time out at Nottingham 10 days later.
Back again over five furlongs, the Richard Hannon Jr trained filly was partnered by Pat Dobbs as in her two previously starts. The 7-strong field was quickly away on this sharp track and Dobbs kept NIGHT CANDLE close to the pace in the first three furlongs. Moving up into third place with 400 meters left to run, he picked up his stick and the filly hit the lead with 200 meters left to run. She was headed briefly by RUSSELLINTHEBUSHES (IRE) (Bungle Inthejungle x Princess Banu) before battling back into the lead despite drifting to her left. Finding another gear in the final strides, she pulled away to win the Class 4 contest by ½ length. RUSSELLINTHEBUSHES finished second for trainer Tom Dascombe and jockey Alistair Rawlinson. The Eugene Stanford-trained and Shane Kelly-ridden MEGANSEIGTHTEEN (GB) (Ardad x Mea Parvitas) was a further length behind.
NIGHT CANDLE is by the AL Shaqab sire MEHMAS, who was the leading first crop sire in 2020. Out of the HIGHEST HONOR mare EPATHA, a three-time winner in France, she was bred by the late Marquise de Moratella. Al Shaqab Racing purchased the filly as a yearling at the Arqana October Yearling sale. She is the fourth winner for her dam.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club
