Since joining the yard in 2021, transferred from the nurseries of Shadwell Stud, Al Husn has just been one of those delightful fillies that proceeds through their races in a uncomplicated manner, and quietly just gets better, and better and better.
She showed promise and exhibited a likeable attitude at home from day one, and it didn’t take long for the penny drop on the race course. She got her career off the mark at just the third attempt, stepping up to 1m and showing a striking turn of foot within the final two furlongs to stretch away under Jim Crowley for a 1¾L success, sparkling with potential under the Kempton lights.
A winning seasonal reappearance back at Kempton set the tone for her three-year-old career, which reads a perfect 3/3 - including a place in the Varian Stable history books as part of Roger’s remarkable 34,838-1 seven-timer, landed on Saturday 17th September 2022.
A winter of steady conditioning work did the daughter of Dubawi the world of good, and she entered her four-year-old season an altogether stronger model. She duly ignited excitement for what was to come that season, running second to future G1 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Via Sistina in the G2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket, a first piece of Black Type for her CV. Less than three weeks later she made the long journey up to Ayr to claim her first Listed victory, landing the Rothesay Stakes.
Her next start, in the G3 Hoppings Stakes at Newcastle, would see her line up against the dual-G1 winning Nashwa. 2f from home it looked to be going the way of the John & Thady Gosden-trained filly, but the oh so plucky Al Husn dug deep, sluicing up the inside rail to snatch the victory within the final few strides.
The G1 Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood provided opportunity for a rematch between the two high-class fillies and, with Nashwa having returned to winning ways in the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes in the interim, it was Nashwa and French raider Blue Rose Cen battling it out at the top of the market, with Al Husn let go at generous odds of 9-1. Breaking smartly from the outside stall, she enjoyed a perfect trip on the heels of the leader Above The Curve and Ryan Moore. Two furlongs from home, as Blue Rose Cen found the door shut along the inside rail, Al Husn cruised up the outside into contention alongside Above The Curve. Nashwa and Hollie Doyle loomed from the back of the field to launch their challenge, but in true Dubawi fashion Al Husn dug deep to prevail by half a length - a perfect G1 debut.
Roger said “she’s a really remarkable filly, none of us knew how good she was as she just beats what’s in front of her. She’s not flashy, but she has an admirable attitude and is tough, so I thought she’d run well.
“I’m delighted for Sheikha Hissa to be here and see a homebred win. It’s a fantastic event steeped in prestige, and a magical race for a filly to win; it’ll be forever in her stud book. When she’s done racing hopefully she’ll become a great broodmare for Shadwell.”
Al Husn is a Shadwell homebred, out of John Musker Stakes winner and Prix de l’Opera third Hadaatha, who in turn is by Sea The Stars out of Masaka Stakes winner and 1,000 Guineas third Hathrah.
