BLAME’s Sibayan took advantage of a trip to Germany on Sunday when the top-class runner added a first Group 1 win to his record in the Preis von Europa (G1).
Racing over 1 ½ miles, Sibayan was happy to race with just one horse beat in the tightly packed field through the opening stages. The 4-year-old gelding didn’t start showing his best until the field was well within the final quarter mile and he was angled to the outside of the field.
Given a clear path, Sibayan showed his big turn of foot to eat up the ground between himself and the leaders and hit the front with a sixteenth left to run. From there, it was all about growing his margin with Sibayan winning by 2 ½ lengths.
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, buyers will have a chance to snap up Sibayan at next weekend’s Arqana Arc Sale where he goes through the ring as Lot 21. A homebred for Aga Khan Studs, he now has eight wins in 13 starts with three other top three placings. His wins include a pair of Group 2s this year and a stakes victory last year at three.
Sibayan is one of two winners from two to race out of the stakes winning Sirrin. That mare is one of two stakes performers out of the stakes winning Sindirana, whose runners also include Group 3 placed Doyeni ex Sinkhal and the dam of Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed Sonaiyla.
Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed Marie’s Diamond and stakes winner and Group 1 placed Sikandarabad are under his third dam with the four-time Group 1 winner Sinndar leading the charge under his fourth dam.
BLAME has already had a good September with his Keeneland September yearlings led by a $370,000 filly and Epic Ride also winning another stakes this month.