Bint Allayl

Bint Allayl made her debut in a five-furlong maiden race at York in May. Ridden by Frankie Dettori, she reportedly had "every chance" but was beaten a neck by Pipalong,[4] a filly who went on to be a Group One winning sprinter. It was to be her only defeat. Two weeks later, she reappeared in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown. She was held up by Dettori before being sent past the odds-on favourite, Speedy James, a furlong from the finish. She immediately went clear and scored a three and a half length victory.[5]

She was then moved up to Group Three class for the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot where she was again matched against Pipalong. She had already been described in the press as "arguably the season's fastest two-year-old",[6] while Channon was reported to believe that she was the best juvenile he had trained.[7] Dettori settled her just behind the leaders, then moved her into the lead a furlong out. She once again went quickly clear of her opponents and won by two lengths from Pipalong, who ran on from well off the pace.[8]

It was more than two months before Bint Allayl appeared for her final start, the Lowther Stakes at York, although she was reported to be working impressively at home.[9] In the York race, she ran over six furlongs for the first time and the field was considered a strong one,[10] with her opponents including the Princess Margaret Stakes winner Mythical Girl and Wannabe Grand, who had won the Cherry Hinton Stakes. Ridden by Mick Kinane Bint Allayl was held up in the early stages before moving easily up to take the lead a furlong out and win by a length and three-quarters from Wannabe Grand.[11] After the race, she was made favourite for the 1,000 Guineas, a position she still held at the time of her death.[12]

Plans to run Bint Allayl in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Cheveley Park Stakes[13] did not materialise after she suffered a setback in training.[14] Although Bint Allayl did not race again, the form of the Lowther Stakes was boosted when Wannabe Grand won the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in September.[15]

Despite a strong belief in the press that Bint Allayl would join the Godolphin Racing team,[10] her owner decided to keep the filly in England with Mick Channon. During the winter, she required surgery on an injured hock but appeared to have fully recovered. On 24 February 1999, Bint Allayl was injured when cantering during light exercise at West Ilsley. She received emergency veterinary treatment, but examinations revealed that she had suffered an untreatable "spiral fracture of her left-fore humerus". She was euthanized that evening.[16]