Tag Archive for: Mutasaabeq

No place quite like Newmarket for Mutasaabeq

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Mutasaabeq continued his love affair with Newmarket and provided trainer Charlie Hills with a nice birthday present by winning the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes for the second straight season.

He put in a brave front-running performance to land the Group Two contest over a mile, which made it five wins from six outings at this course.

Jim Crowley made all on the son of Invincible Spirit to prevail by three-quarters of a length last year, but connections had to endure a tighter finish this term.

Regal Reality threw down a fierce challenge throughout the final furlong but 11-4 favourite Mutasaabeq kept on well enough to oblige by a head, with Chindit half a length further back in third.

“He seems to love it here. It is horses for courses, and he has got a tremendous record at the Rowley Mile and Jim has given him a good ride there,” said Hills.

“I thought he toughed it out well in the end. He has been a good horse over the years, and he has won three Group Twos now. Birthday winners are good, but I’ve not really had many.

“He is not frustrating, but I think when he wins he puts a lot into it and he can’t put too many races together, although he is a little bit older now, and a bit stronger.

“When he won here as a three-year-old he looked unbeatable and he went off not far off favourite for the 2000 Guineas just off winning a conditions race.

“He has been pretty sound through his career, but he has not had too many chances at Group One level. However, I’ve always felt he is up to it.”

A trip to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup could be on the agenda.

Hills added: “He has been a pleasure to train and we will see where we go next. I will speak to Angus (Gold, racing manager) and Sheikha Hissa.

“Whether we have a look at America for the mile there that could be an option. We will certainly think about it. What do you do with a horse that has won three Group Twos. He is a good miler, and he likes fast ground. I’m sure he will handle the trip.

“He only needs to improve a couple of lengths with the travel and the conditions and you never quite know. A track like this the mile tests his stamina, but a two-turn mile (like the one at Santa Anita) will suit him ideally.”

Mutasaabeq has eyes on Lockinge prize this weekend

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Mutasaabeq will bid to break his Group One duck in Saturday’s Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, with connections confident his rivals “will have to go some to beat him”.

The Charlie Hills-trained five-year-old defied a penalty to beat last year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Native Trail in the bet365 Mile, which was switched to Newmarket’s Guineas meeting after heavy rain forced Sandown’s card to be abandoned the previous week.

The Shadwell Estates-owned Mutasaabeq, who registered a fourth win at Rowley Mile course, was one of 16 horses confirmed for the Lockinge on Monday.

Angus Gold, Shadwell’s racing manager, believes his victory in the Joel Stakes last September in first-time blinkers showed improvement and the signs are that he will continue to progress.

“He goes to the Lockinge. It was a nice performance last time. It didn’t surprise me that he stayed on well, because he looked like he wanted that (a mile) before,” said Gold.

“Obviously, you don’t go into a race like that thinking you are going to beat a Guineas winner necessarily, but I was obviously really pleased with him.”

Winner of six of his 13 starts, Mutasaabeq seeks a hat-trick after back-to-back Group Two victories.

He could take on Ralph Beckett’s dual Group One winner Angel Bleu, Sun Chariot runner-up Laurel, Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Modern Games and Champion Stakes third My Prospero in what is shaping up to be an excellent renewal, although Inspiral is a notable absentee.

Gold feels match fitness should benefit the son of Invincible Spirit, adding: “All being well, if he turns up in the same sort of form he was at Newmarket, they will all have to go some to beat him.

“Certainly the early signs – and though it is only one run so far – are that his behaviour was much better. He is a much more mature and relaxed horse and he was heading very much the right way the other day.

“The blinkers certainly didn’t seem to do him any harm.”

Mutasaabeq pointing towards Lockinge following Newmarket strike

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Mutasaabeq began his season in the same fashion that he ended the last with a dominant display at Newmarket in the rearranged bet365 Mile.

Winner of the Joel Stakes when last seen, he was due to reappear at Sandown last week but when that race was lost to the weather, it was rescheduled for the Guineas meeting.

Trained by Charlie Hills, Mutasaabeq (4-1) was smartly away under Jim Crowley, with Irish Guineas winner Native Trail a little sluggish upon leaving the stalls.

That allowed Crowley to dictate matters and despite carrying a Group Two penalty for his Joel Stakes win, Mutasaabeq had matters under control from a long way out.

On meeting the rising ground Native Trail did start to make some inroads but was still beaten by three lengths.

The winner can still be backed at 14-1 for the Lockinge with Coral but Betfair were more impressed and cut him to 7-1.

Hills said: “He was supplemented for the Guineas as a three-year-old, so he’s always been a good horse.

“He’s got a good record here and I’m delighted with the way he’s put it to bed, especially given he had the penalty to carry as well today.

“The blinkers seem to have helped him and we’ll have to look at the Lockinge now, I suppose.

“He’s beautifully bred, being by Invincible Spirit out of Ghanaati, so that will have done him no harm today (winning a Group Two).

“It’s obviously a week shorter now than it would have been between this and the Lockinge, had it been run at Sandown, but I think he should be fine.”

Lockinge on the radar for Mutasaabeq return

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Newbury’s Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes has been identified as a possible starting point for Mutasaabeq when he returns to the track this term.

Having won his first two starts in the manner of an above-average operator, Charlie Hills’ charge was handed some stiff assignments thereafter during his three-year-old season, including finishing a respectable seventh in the 2000 Guineas.

Winner of a Thirsk conditions event in his first outing at four, he continued to perform with consistency despite failing to add to his tally in his next four starts, before finishing the campaign on a real high when making all to land the Joel Stakes at Newmarket in September.

That took his career record to five wins in 12 starts, with connections deciding to pull stumps for the season and keep their powder dry ahead of a tilt at the May 20 Group One.

“He was really good in the Joel and speaking to Angus (Gold, racing manager for owner Shadwell) and Richard (Hills), the plan was to put him away from there and I think we will look at something like the Lockinge,” said Hills.

“He seems to have wintered really well and his temperament is excellent now, so especially with the dam Ghanaati, her progeny seem to improve with age.”

Jockey Jim Crowley riding Mutasaabeq on their way to winning at Newmarket
Jockey Jim Crowley riding Mutasaabeq on their way to winning at Newmarket (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

The son of Invincible Spirit was tried in first-time blinkers when scooping Group Two honours on the Rowley Mile, but Hills does not believe they are essential ahead of his charge’s return to action.

“He hasn’t got a bad bone in his body and it perhaps helped him concentrate a bit more,” he added.

“He’s run some good races without them as well, so we will see how he is training around the time, speak with Jim (Crowley, jockey) and go from there.”