THE Simon Urizzi French-bred Sands Of Mali lit up Champions’ Day at Ascot last week with his Group 1 victory in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint, beating Harry Angel by a length after making all the running in the six-furlong dash. This victory followed a juvenile win in the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Gimcrack Stakes.

In the spring of 2017 Sands Of Mali was one of the headline lots at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Breeze Up Sale. Early on in proceedings the Con Marnane-consigned son of Panis (Miswaki) sold for £75,000 to Matt Coleman of Stroud Coleman on behalf of the Cool Silk Partnership in whose colours he runs. This was a healthy return for the Bansha House Stud man who invested just €20,000 in the colt six or seven months earlier at the Osarus Yearling Sale.