Maraahel may run in Champion Stakes

MARAAHEL could bid for an elusive first Group One victory in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday week.

The Michael Stoute-trained five-year-old has yet to strike at the highest level but he came close last time when narrowly touched off by stablemate Notnowcato in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

Maraahel has been impressing in his work since that run last month and connections are now weighing up a crack at the 10-furlong showpiece, which could also features the likes of Arc second Pride and Hurricane Run.

“Maraahel is a possible runner in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, although I haven’t discussed the options yet with the owner,” said Angus Gold, racing manager for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum.

“He worked yesterday morning and everyone was happy with him. He came out of his last race fine and I don’t think he’s missed a day since.

“He’s a neat and relatively light-framed colt and doesn’t take an awful lot of racing, so we would always try and spread his races out, hence the reason he has not run since August.”