By Tom Frary
Making his comeback having been injured in the G3 Sovereign S. at Salisbury last August, Massaat was straight back in the swing as he conjured up his basic class to re-establish himself in an elite position he had previously enjoyed when runner-up in the 2015 G1 Dewhurst S. and in last year's G1 2000 Guineas. After trailing Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) by 1 1/2 lengths in the Newmarket Classic, the homebred was tried in the G1 Epsom Derby in June but failed to see out the mile-and-a-half trip and wound up ninth before being remodelled into a miler. Connections only got as far as his next run in the Sovereign and he had become something of a forgotten horse in the interim, but this re-entry made sure he was back in the limelight once again with a potentially profitable autumn campaign ahead.
Remarkably 12-1 despite the withdrawal of the three group-winning fillies Daban (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Spangled (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Mix and Mingle (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) due to the rain-softened ground, the bay showed his wellbeing and enthusiasm early as he tanked along for Jim Crowley over two lengths off the pace set by the other Shadwell representative Ibn Malik (Ire) (Raven's Pass). Looking the winner a long way from home, Massaat moved to the front smoothly with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. Librisa Breeze, who had met momentary trouble in running, emerged from behind with his customary deadly finishing kick but the winner was beyond recall and not stopping. “It's a great training performance to have him ready,” Crowley said. “It's the first time I've ridden him and he gave me a great feel. He loved that slower ground and I think it's quite important to him as he's a big horse who hits the ground quite hard. Seven furlongs was ideal first time back, as he was a little bit fresh and free early on. He saw it out well and galloped out well. He's a strong traveller and a mile will be fine for him when he relaxes better next time.”
Trainer Owen Burrows is not looking too far ahead following the colt's previous problems, but was taking much out of the performance which he admitted had come as a surprise. “I thought he'd be rusty and I was just looking to get him back on track, but he won impressively,” he said. “He had a chip removed from his front fetlock and then was injured in recuperation, so the whole team have done a great job with him. We'll get him back home and fingers crossed he'll be fine in the morning and we'll plot then. We'll have to look at group 1s, but it's important that he has a bit of cut in the ground as it was firm at Salisbury when he injured himself. We'll keep away from that ground.”
Massaat, whose half-brother Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was an impressive debut winner for the Stoute stable at the track on Friday, is out of a half to the MSW Zeiting responsible for five black-type performers headed by the G3 Strensall S. winner and G1 Caulfield Cup runner-up Scottish (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Her daughter Zut Alors (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), who was third in the G3 Prix Miesque, is the dam of this year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Precieuse (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and also the smart sprinter Baccarat (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}). Zeiting's half-sister Dolled Up (Ire) (Whipper) captured the G3 Prix du Bois and is now the dam of Fou Rire (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) who took part in Saturday's G3 Prix du Calvados. The dam, who has proven an inspired 130,000gns purchase by Shadwell at the 2009 Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale and who showed useful sprint form for Charlie Hills, also has a yearling colt by Kodiac (GB).
Saturday, Newbury, Britain
BETFRED HUNGERFORD S.-G2, £150,000, NBY, 8-19, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:25.84, sf.
1–MASSAAT (IRE), 132, c, 4, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Madany (Ire), by Acclamation (GB)
2nd Dam: Belle de Cadix (Ire), by Law Society
3rd Dam: Gourgandine (Ire), by Auction Ring
*1st stakes win. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Owen Burrows; J-Jim Crowley. £85,065. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-Eng, 7-2-3-0, $443,241. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Librisa Breeze (GB), 132, g, 5, Mount Nelson (GB)–Bruxcalina (Fr), by Linamix (Fr). (60,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT; 90,000gns 3yo '15 TA15). O-Tony Bloom; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Dean Ivory. £32,250.
3–Nathra (Ire), 129, f, 4, Iffraaj (GB)–Rada (Ire), by Danehill. (270,000gns Ylg '14 TAOCT). O-Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah; B-Pier House Stud (IRE); T-John Gosden. £16,140.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 1HF. Odds: 12.00, 1.60, 6.00.
Also Ran: Breton Rock (Ire), Sir Dancealot (Ire), Ibn Malik (Ire), Kaspersky (Ire), Poet's Vanity (GB). Scratched: Mix and Mingle (Ire), Spangled (GB), Daban (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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