Azamour wins Beresford Stakes

Azamour took the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh today for last year’s successful team of owner the Aga Khan, trainer John Oxx and jockey Johnny Murtagh.

They landed the one-mile Group Two contest 12 months ago with Alamshar, who went on to win the Budweiser Irish Derby and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

Azamour could also have a bright future judged on his cosy neck victory over Relaxed Gesture in today’s renewal.

Relaxed Gesture set out to make the running at a steady pace tracked by Azamour, the 6-4 favourite.

Pat Smullen on the leader gradually increased the pace, but Murtagh had the move covered and pounced in the last half-furlong to secure a narrow victory in a time almost three seconds faster than Alamshar’s.

Oxx said: “He did the job well. The first two quickened up in the straight but they didn’t go that fast early.

“Looking at his pedigree Azamour might just be a miler, though I trained the dam (Asmara) to win a Listed race over 10 furlongs.”