CHAMPION STATUS SEALED
Ebullient off a mid-summer break after his hat-trick of Group 1 sprint victories, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) tore up the Ascot turf once again as he played out perfectly what was probably his career sign-off in Saturday's G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. Wildly impressive over this course and distance on contrasting fast ground in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at the Royal meeting June 19, the homebred's subsequent wins in the G1 July Cup and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest lacked that pizzazz but it was quickly evident that he was full of energy tracking the early pace up the center. Tanking to the front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining, the 5-2 chalk surged clear soon after to record a comprehensive two-length verdict over fellow 3-year-old and the previously unbeaten G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero Twilight Son (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), who added the necessary gravity to the performance. “He's just got better and better and has really grown up,” jockey Paul Hanagan said. “He'd had a long time off and it was a worry that he would be too fresh, but they've done a great job with him. I tried to keep it as simple as I could and I was getting there far too early, but he dragged me there and doesn't pull up in front. I always thought he'd like some cut in the ground and today he was much better getting his toe in. It's been a long year, but he's got such a fantastic temperament and it was never in doubt. I have so much faith in him and is one of the best horses I've ridden–he's special.”
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT S.-G1, £632,505, ASC, 10-17, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:13.34, g/s.
1–MUHAARAR (GB), 127, c, 3, by Oasis Dream (GB)">Oasis Dream (GB)
1st Dam: Tahrir (Ire) (SP-Eng), by Linamix (Fr)
2nd Dam: Miss Sacha (Ire), by Last Tycoon (Ire)
3rd Dam: Heaven High (GB), by High Line (GB)
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Charles Hills; J-Paul Hanagan. £358,694. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 11-7-0-3, $1,879,289. *1/2 to Tamaathul (GB) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), GSP-UAE, $339,790. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Twilight Son (GB), 127, c, 3, Kyllachy (GB)–Twilight Mistress (GB), by Bin Ajwaad (Ire). O-Godfrey Wilson & Cheveley Park Stud; B-Mrs C R D Wilson (GB); T-Henry Candy. £135,989.
3–Danzeno (GB), 128, g, 4, Denounce (GB)–Danzanora (GB), by Groom Dancer. O/B-A M Wragg (GB); T-Michael Appleby. £68,058.
Margins: 2, 1HF, NK. Odds: 2.50, 4.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: The Tin Man (GB), Naadirr (Ire), Adaay (Ire), Emperor Max (Aus), Aeolus (GB), Gathering Power (Ire), Interception (Ire), Maarek (GB), Gordon Lord Byron (Ire), Lightning Moon (Ire), Heaven's Guest (Ire), Lancelot Du Lac (Ity), Jack Dexter (GB), Eastern Impact (Ire), Strath Burn (GB), Coulsty (Ire), Great Minds (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Despite his success in the G2 Gimcrack S. at York in August, Muhaarar took a backseat among the elite of the European juveniles last term due to falling slightly short on the major stage as a result of his over-enthusiasm and immaturity. Looking to be lacking star potential when third in Newmarket's G2 July S. and G1 Middle Park S. over this trip, he clearly benefitted greatly from the winter's developing time and returned with an impressive success in the G3 Greenham S. over seven furlongs at Newbury Apr. 18 before being handed a horror wide draw for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Only eighth as a result in that May 10 Longchamp mile Classic, he was abandoned by Paul Hanagan for the June 19 Commonwealth Cup but was emphatic as he announced his entry onto center stage there prior to a workmanlike verdict over his elders in the July Cup at Newmarket July 11. At the time of his hard-fought follow-up in Deauville's Prix Maurice de Gheest Aug. 9, Muhaarar was deemed a touch disappointing but subsequent events have shown what a tough opponent the runner-up Esoterique (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) must have been in a race during which he lost a left front shoe. Granted an ideal lead from Lancelot du Lac (Ity) (Shamardal) at the forefront of the main group clumped in the middle of the track as Twilight Son was trapped against the stand's rail slightly adrift, the Shadwell homebred was able to ease to the head of affairs with Hanagan still holding back inside the final quarter mile. Ryan Moore was getting a game response from the eventual runner-up as he drew away from the remainder, but Muhaarar was already away and gone with his trademark decisive acceleration to unequivocally claim his champion sprinting crown. “He's been very straightforward and certainly has the will to win with great looks and the most beautiful temperament,” trainer Charlie Hills commented. “I've got to thank Sheikh Hamdan for breeding him and sending him to me, as it's been a great privilege to train him. He's just gone a little bit in his coat the last two days, but the track suits him and we saw his best there.” His owner-breeder appeared to cast doubtful light on a possible tilt at the GI Breeders' Cup Mile afterwards. “This is a special day, especially for the horse and the crowd and he has proven he's a good horse,” he said. “We were thinking of America, as we know the horse can stay the mile now but all the sprinters in Europe go straight and in Kentucky they go one furlong and then turn and turn, so I don't think it will suit.” Twilight Son's conditioner Henry Candy was not making excuses despite the disadvantageous draw and said, “If we had been drawn in the pack, we would have been able to tail the winner more closely. We'd have been closer, but we'd have been nothing other than second. He's run a fantastic race and we're delighted with him. It was a bit like Limato earlier in the year here at Ascot, where he was drawn away from the action and you need luck in races like that. That will be it for the year now, this time last year he was an insignificant little thing, but he is now a proper horse and there is more to come. His dad did much better at four and he will be as well.” Danzeno (GB) (Denounce {GB}) recorded a career-best that he has promised for a while to be 1 1/2 lengths behind in third and his trainer Mick Appleby commented, “He's run a great race and just got beat by two very good horses, we can't fault him.”
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