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Ajaya easily wins the Gimcrack Stakes. Raucous (blue colours) takes third

Ajaya confirmed he was a colt out of the top drawer for William Haggas on Saturday when running out the brilliant winner of the Gimcrack Stakes at York.

Back in third was another Blue Diamond-bred, Raucous, to continue a purple patch for the stud that also includes Friday’s highly impressive Sandown maiden winner Special Season.

Ajaya came into the race off a gutsy runner-up effort to Gutaifan in the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte. Partnered by Graham Gibbons on this occasion, he travelled extremely well in the early stages and put the race to bed in a matter of strides. At the line, he had a length and a quarter to spare over the second Ribchester, who was in turn clear of Raucous.

“Physically Ajaya has changed completely. I was all for sending him in March and giving him six weeks off,” William Haggas told the Racing Post. “He has done nothing but improve physically and his form shows that. I think we will go for the Middle Park now, there is nothing to be gained by going lower.”

Ajaya, by Invincible Spirit, is the first foal out of Nessina, who was purchased by Tony Nerses for 300,000gns at the 2012 Tattersalls December Sale. The daughter of Hennessy hails from one of the best families in the Juddmonte Stud Book as a half-sister to Listed winner Tantina, dam of the top-class pair Bated Breath and Cityscape.

Nessina is also a descendant of blue hen Best In Show via her Group 3-winning daughter Monroe, who is best remembered as the dam of champion two-year-old Xaar.

Nessina has a yearling colt by Oasis Dream, a colt foal by Mastercraftsman and is back in foal to Dansili.

Raucous an 100,000gns yearling purchase by John Warren, is the fourth foal out of the Queen Mary Stakes runner-up Shyrl.

“Raucous is developing very well,” added Haggas. “He was a bit too raw for this race but I hope he will be a good horse.”

Shyrl, by Acclamation, has a yearling colt by Sayif and is back in foal to Raucous’ sire Dream Ahead.