Another Star Filly for Al Maher

Al Maher's propensity to sire black-type winning milers was again in evidence when Badawiya scored a devastating win in the Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

A quality 3-year-old filly bred and raced by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Badawiya streeted a 16-horse field to record her third win from just six starts. A scintillating finishing burst saw her improve from sixth on the home-turn before saluting by a clear-cut two lengths winning margin, the progressive daughter of Al Maher posting a brilliant final 600-metre sectional time of 33.57s.

Winning jockey Damien Oliver declared after the race: "She's a nice filly this. [She has] really impressed me today. [She] settled midfield, [in a] good position [and] relaxed really well, and showed some nice acceleration when I asked her in the straight. The way she did it today, she is only going to get better. "

Badawiya became the 27th individual stakes winner of Al Maher's stud career and his second Edward Manifold Stakes winner. The coveted 3-year-old fillies event was won in 2009 by Majestic Music, a first-crop daughter of the remarkably consistent Emirates Park resident sire. Al Maher's 265-plus individual winners features 6.5% stakes winners-to-starters.

Significantly, Badawiya is bred 2S X 3D to Danehill (USA). She is the second major Group winner produced by the Fuji Kiseki (Jpn) mare Sayuri San, dam also of the Greyville Golden Slipper (G1) winner Rumya. This is also the immediate family of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's Australian-bred UAE Oaks (LR) winner Raihana and one that traces back to the acclaimed Sydney racemare Emancipation.

Trainer Mick Price has confirmed that Badawiya will back-up in next Saturday's Group 1 MRC The Thousand Guineas (1600m) following discussions with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and his Australian-based advisor, Tim Stakemire.