Ajtebi steers Siyaadah to fifth place in Italy's Oaks

Siyaadah finished fifth in the Group Two Oaks d'Italia, the fourth Classic of the season, in Milan yesterday. The three-year-old Shamardal filly, partnered by Ahmed Ajtebi and trained by Mahmood al Zarooni, was slightly slow into her stride leaving the stalls. She was keen early on, going up to fourth on the outside of the 12 runners after a furlong or so before being settled in fifth. Siyaadah dropped back to ninth on the turn for home and was momentarily outpaced entering the straight as the leaders sprinted for home.

She kept on well in the final furlong but the first three had gone clear by then, with Contredanse winning by a short head in 2mins 14.70secs on fast ground. "Siyaadah ran well but really needed a faster pace," al Zarooni, the trainer, told www.Godolphin.com. "They went too slow before quickening up. She also had not run since March and could have needed the race." Also running yesterday was Ancien Regime who finished 10th in the Long Melford Lady Jane Clothing & Saddlery Handicap Stakes at Newmarket, England.

Running over six furlongs, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained horse broke well and looked to have every chance with two furlongs to remaining. But he never really kicked on and eased up when beaten. Today, Chock A Block goes in the Listed Festival Stakes at Goodwood, making his seasonal return in the 10-furlong contest. The four-year-old colt, trained by bin Suroor, made some headway when seventh in a 12-furlong Group Three race at Newbury in October and was a short-head winner of a Newmarket Listed race over same trip in the same month. He drops down in class and two furlongs in distance today.

Judiciary goes in the Flexi Betting Handicap Stakes at the same venue but over 10 furlongs. The al Zarooni-trained three-year-old makes his second outing of the season. He was victorious by a head over a mile at Fibresand maiden at Southwell in November. * Agency