Awzaan and Behkabad take juvenile stakes

Awzaan and Behkabad added their names to the list of promising European juveniles on Saturday, Awzaan taking the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury and Behkabad the Group 3 Prix des Chenes at Longchamp.

Trained by Mark Johnston for Hamdan al-Maktoum, Awzaan is now 3 for 3 after his triumph in the $129,000 Mill Reef. Sent off at 11-4, he came from last-to-first in the seven-runner field under Richard Hills to defeat Angel's Pursuit by 1 1/4 lengths, clocking 1:12.40 for the straight six furlongs on good to firm ground. The previously unbeaten Quarrel was third, but the 5-4 favorite Radiohead, who had finished third against older horses in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes last month, faded to fourth, beaten three lengths after having led briefly around the furlong pole.

Johnston said that Awzaan would go next in the six-furlong, Group 1 Middle Park Stakes on Oct. 2 at Newmarket, which was the scene of the Alhaarth colt's previous outing, a five-length allowance score.

Behkabad, a half-brother to last week's Group 2 Prix Niel runner-up and Arc hopeful Beheshtam, came with a late run under Christophe Lemaire to land the $117,000, one-mile Prix des Chenes at odds of 7-5, getting the mile on good gorund in 1:39.30. Like Awzaan, he is now 3 for 3 after victories in a maiden and an allowance race. By Sea the Stars' sire, Cape Cross, Behkabad is an Aga Khan homebred trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. The Aga Khan said that he may be put away for the remainder of the year, but that if he does run again it would be in the one-mile, Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on Nov. 1.