Mohaather proves best in loaded Sussex
In a race lauded as the race of the year before it even ran, Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) earned his first Group 1 success in Wednesday’s Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood.
Attracting a field of seven including this year’s British and Irish 2000 Guineas winners, the 1600 metre affair on good ground was dramatic from the start as most of the field went for the lead. It didn’t take long for Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to take over pacemaking duties just over stablemate Vatican City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Racing in the middle of the tightly packed field, Mohaather was positioned a few paths off the rail by jockey Jim Crowley as they raced into the straight. It was a messy run in the final 200 metres as Vatican City drifted across the track and Witchita (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) bumped Mohaather. Crowley decided the best route was to swing his mount to the far outside next to Siskin (USA) (First Defence {USA}) in what proved to be an inspired decision. The move saw the 4-year-old avoid the fate of Kameko (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}), who stayed hemmed in on the rail where Mohaather had been less than 100 metres before.
Given clear running room, Mohaather set down for the challenge in the final 200 metres and drew even with Circus Maximus, who had just fended off Siskin. With a head full of steam, Mohaather flew past to win by 0.75l over the longtime pacesetter with Siskin in third, 2l ahead of Kameko.
The win was the first Sussex victory for trainer Marcus Tregoning and Hamdan Al Maktoum with Tregoning giving the owner credit for giving him a horse of this calibre.
"I have had to wait a long time for this, but quite honestly we didn't have the horses,” he said. “When I left Lambourn I had to start again with not very many - it was like starting from the beginning. Luckily, Sheikh Hamdan supported me very well. It's a big day for the team and for Sheikh Hamdan. He is a very good owner to train for. He is a lot of fun and a lot of people don't see that. He takes adversity really well; when things don't go right, move on. To have someone with so much confidence behind you does make you a better trainer.”
A 110,000 gns (AU$184,800) Book 2 yearling at the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Mohaather is the third Group 1 winner for former New Zealand shuttle sire Showcasing (GB).
Coming from a strong family, he is a full brother to Grade 2 winner Prize Exhibit (Ire) and Listed placed Harbour Master (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) with a half-sister producing G1 Queen Anne S. winner Accidental Agent (GB) (Delegator {GB}).
Steel Bull secures first stakes success in Molecomb
One of two stakes on the card during the second day of racing at Goodwood, 2-year-old Steel Bull (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) justified his favouritism with a win in the G3 Markel Insurance Molecomb S. for his first black type success on a week after making his debut.
Speeding through a 1000 metre race, Steel Bull was a little restless in the gate and broke a step slowly to find himself at the back of the tight packed field. That proved to be the best position for him to give himself cover with Colin Keane sitting calmly on the colt as they made their way through the field with 350 metres left to run.
Keane gave his mount a few taps as they closed in on the lead and Steel Bull found another gear to look a likely winner. The success wouldn’t come easily, however with one-time leader Ben Macdui (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) regrouping and making a late run.
That rival closed the margin down to 0.75l at the line with Internationaldream (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) 1.5l behind in third when just edging out Chief Little Hawk (USA) (Air Force Blue {USA}) for the position.
Staying at home in Ireland for the race, trainer Michael O’Callaghan admitted it was a little hard to watch the race – though not due to the nerves that usually lead to that decision.
“I actually struggled to see it properly because the internet dropped out on the computer as I was watching on, so I had to try and get into the living room to watch it there,” he said. “I watched the replay and he has done it very, very well. Colin was as good as ever - he is top-class and has done a great job on him. Obviously, we have a nice horse on our hands, thank God.”
Now undefeated in two starts, the colt already looks like O’Callaghan found a bargain when buying him for £28,000 (AU$50,654) at the Goffs UK Breeze Up earlier this year. Already garnering some interest from buyers after last week’s debut victory, it’s likely the trainer’s phone will be ringing again in coming days with more offers.
"We had a little bit of interest in him after winning his maiden but, at the end of the day, it was a five-furlong maiden and he had to go and prove he could do something like that,” he said. “I don't own him myself - I am involved with my father and another man called John Fleming. We buy all the horses together, they let me go away and buy them and we have been lucky at the breeze-ups. Thank God we have found another good one."
Steel Bull is out of a half-sister to Listed winner Three Sea Captains (Ire) (Choisir) and the dam of Starspangledbanner’s Group 3-placed Lil Grey (Ire) with the three out of a daughter of Group 1 winner and Italian champion Lavinia Fontana (Ire) (Sharpo {GB}).
Miss Jingles gives Godolphin Goodwood win
Godolphin was back on the board during the second day of racing at Goodwood when Miss Jingles (Ire) (Exceed And Excel) took her record to two wins in three starts.
Racing eight days after breaking her maiden at Sandown, the filly again teamed up with William Buick in the 1000 metre race. Sprinting near the race, Miss Jingles was outsprinted by two others in the early stages for the lead but still had enough speed to run close to the pace as they entered the final 600 metres.
Buick piloted her closer to the centre of the track for a run at the lead but had to deal with her being pushed out a bit farther than he planned by Country Carnival (Ire) (Mayson {GB}). That was no worry for the filly, however, with Miss Jingles relishing the fight and setting down to duel Country Carnival to the wire.
Sticking her nose in front in the final 75 metres, Miss Jingles had a neck margin on the rival by the time they hit the line 4l in front of Spright (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).
"James [Doyle] came really quick on his filly but, once you get this filly into a fight, she loves it. She did the same at Sandown when she won her maiden,” Buick said. “This race had her name written all over it - a sharp five furlongs on nice ground. She is well-related, being a full sister to Sound And Silence, who was very quick. She is as quick as he was."
A full sister to Group 3 winner Sound And Silence (Ire), the filly is bred on the same Exceed And Excel x Elusive Quality (USA) cross as seven Group winners and 11 stakes horses, led by Australian champion Guelph.
The filly is a granddaughter of champion Gossamer (GB) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), who is also the dam of Group 1 winner Ibn Khaldun (USA) (Dubai Destination {USA}) in addition to a full sister to two-time Group 1 winner Barathea (Ire).
Sepoy kicks off Goodwood card with winner
Listed placed Chamade (GB) kicked off the second day of the Goodwood Festival with a win for Australian sire Sepoy when she registered her second career victory in the opener.
Racing over 2000 metres with Harry Bentley aboard, Chamade went straight to the lead on the rail with a small lead over a keen Nkosikazi (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who raced apart from the field. Most of the field raced a few lengths behind Chamade, who was well in hand entering the final half of the race and not asked to run until the final 600 metres.
The field looked like it would be coming to her at that point but none of the horses ever took up the challenge, leaving Chamade on her own up front for the full stretch run.
She crossed the line an easy 2.75l ahead of Waliyak (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who was a further 1.5l ahead of Dean Street Doll (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) at the line.
“She was actually in the Horses In Training Sale last October and won just before; if she hadn't won well that day, she would have got sold for about five grand. She is a homebred, she has got her black type and now she has won a couple, so that's great,” said trainer Ralph Beckett. "Making the pace has suited her every time we've done it. Richard Kingscote actually won her maiden on her and it was because he rode her like that that we carried on with it. I thought the ground would be too quick today. We will be heading back for black type again, probably in the autumn I would think. She might turn out in the Upavon S. [at Salisbury] in a fortnight's time, but I would have thought it was more likely that she'd be heading for Europe in the autumn."
By Darley’s former reverse shuttler Sepoy, Chamade is a half-sister to Chris Waller’s multiple Australian Group winner Brimham Rocks (GB) (Fastnet Rock) with both from Listed-placed Colima (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}).
Chamade is a fourth generation stakes placed filly with her fourth dam Melodrama (GB) (Busted {GB}) never winning or placing in a stakes race but producing Group 1 winner Lemon Souffle (GB) (Salse {USA}).
Mambo Nights wins again at Goodwood
Mambo Nights (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) added a third consecutive win to his resume on Wednesday with a neck victory over A Star Above (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) going 2400 metres.
The 3-year-old colt was a bit slow getting out of the barriers but quickly bounced back to race keenly in midpack. The colt wasn’t overly thrilled to have to settle behind horses but settled under Andrea Atzeni as they made their way around the course.
About 5l behind the leaders with 600 metres to go, Atzeni let the colt loose but it took the colt a while to get rolling. Once he was in stride, Mambo Nights confronted the leaders and they quickly folded right as A Star Above was set to make his own challenge. That rival didn’t have enough momentum to take over the lead, only getting to the neck of the winner by the time they hit the line with Nathaniel’s (Ire) Sound Of Cannons (GB) in third.
“Today, he jumped fine and was a little bit keen early on. We didn't go much of a gallop, but from halfway he relaxed nicely and moved up lovely,” said Atzeni. “He took it up two furlongs down and he is a big horse who is still learning. When Hollie Doyle came up on the inside, he was always doing enough to win the race and it worked out nicely. Mambo Nights is a work in progress and Richard has done a great job with him by taking it step by step from now on. I think he will be even better as a 4-year-old."
A half-brother to Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Spectre (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), the pair are out of a half-sister to G3 Geelong Cup winner Ibicenco (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) and Hong Kong stakes-winner Mr Irian (Ger) (Tertullian {USA}).
Under Mambo Nights’ third dam are New Zealand Group 3 winner Igraine (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}) and G2 Peter Young second Illo (Ger) (Tertullian {USA}) along with Igraine’s recent G1 Germany Derby winner In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}).
Toro Strike closes out second day of Goodwood Festival with Victory
Al Shaqab Racing homebred Toro Strike (USA) (Toronado {Ire}) provided Oisin Murphy with some redemption at Goodwood after the jockey took full responsibility for Kameko’s (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}) in the Sussex earlier on the card.
Racing over 1400 metres against older horses, Toro Strike raced in midpack of the 17 horse field just a few lengths off the leader early on before the pack stretched out entering the final 900 metres. At that point, Toro Strike had plenty of work to do and took some time to get running when Murphy asked him to go.
In the final 300 metres, Toro Strike made his own hole to find clear running room and quickly went to the lead. There was no returning challenge from the other runners with previous leader Magical Wish (Ire) (Heeraat {Ire}) conceding to the 3-year-old and focusing on staying on for second.
Finishing 2.25l behind the leader, Magical Wish was able to secure second by 1l over Deep Intrigue (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) with the top six runners all spread out over 7.5l behind the winner.
“Toro Strike is a beautiful, physical specimen,” said Murphy. "Through the race, it is always going to be a little bit rough and it was about keeping it as straightforward as possible. I feel like if he could stay at seven furlongs for the time being would be a big help. We'll see what Richard thinks but it would be nice to see him land another big prize."
By Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (Ire), the colt is the first winner out of Grade 3 winner Scarlet Strike (USA) (Smart Strike {Can}), a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Tara’s Tango (USA) (Unbridled’s Song {USA}) and Visionaire (USA) (Grand Slam {USA}).
In all, their Listed placed dam Scarlet Tango (USA) (French Deputy {USA}) produced four stakes winners among 10 winners from 11 to race.
