Mubtaker takes big step towards Arc
Mubtaker, Europe’s highest-rated horse still in training after last season, put himself firmly into the reckoning for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when making a successful reappearance at Newbury today.
Marcus Tregoning’s seven-year-old, runner-up to Dalakhani in the French feature last October, was gaining his third straight success in the Group Two Stan James Geoffrey Freer Stakes.
Having been keen in the early stages, Mubtaker, the 30-100 favourite, tracked the pacesetting Duabi Success before Richard Hills delivered him to hit the front a furlong out.
Mubtaker quickened away, but then his lack of match practice – this was his first start since the Arc 314 days ago – caught up with him and he drifted left towards the rail before securing a two-and-a-half-length success from Dubai Success.
“He was just coming to the end of his tether,” said Tregoning. “He was getting a bit tired in the last furlong. He was keen early on – that’s why we put the Grakle noseband on this time, to give him every assistance. He won’t wear that next time. He was a bit fresh today.
“The race probably came two weeks too early and we thought that might happen. But that was very pleasing. I don’t think there’s been another horse who has won this race three times, so it a nice record for Mubtaker to hold.”
He added: “He’s tremendous. I’ve never trained a horse as consistent as him. With all the things that have gone wrong with him he gives you 100 per cent every time. If they all had his heart you wouldn’t have a worry.”
Mubtaker may head to the Arc – for which he was clipped to 10-1 from 12-1 by Coral, Ladbrokes and Paddy Power – via either Kempton’s September Stakes, which he won last season, or the Group One Grosser Preis von Baden at Baden-Baden.
“I will leave the decision to Sheikh Hamdan,” said Tregoning. “I want him to go to the Arc as fresh as paint. That’s what happened last year, and it nearly did the trick.”
Chic had a welcome change of fortune when winning the Stan James Online Hungerford Stakes at 9-2 under the in-form Kieren Fallon.
Sir Michael Stoute’s four-year-old, almost brought down in scrimmaging at Royal Ascot and then denied a clear passage at Goodwood a week ago, enjoyed a perfect run this time in the seven-furlong contest.
Fallon made steady headway from well over a quarter of a mile from home to lead before the furlong marker and draw clear to beat Suggestive, who came through late, by a length and three-quarters. Polar Way, the 7-2 favourite, failed to land a blow.
Chris Richardson, racing manager to Cheveley Park Stud, owners of Chic, said: “No horse has deserved that more after all her problems.
“Laura (Ford), who looks after her, is shedding tears of joy instead of tears of despair after her last two runs.
“She had an awful run at Ascot, where she was involved in a nasty incident, and then the gaps didn’t come for her in the Oak Tree at Goodwood.
“But everything worked out well for her today, so well done to Kieren. She’s got options, including in Ireland. The Sun Chariot (at Newmarket) is another option.”
Etlaala (5-2) indicated that Barry Hills’ horses are emerging from a spell in the doldrums by making a winning debut in the Stan James Supporting Wessex Heartbeat EBF Maiden Stakes.
The son of Selkirk made all the running in the seven-furlong contest and stretched out stylishly in the final furlong under Richard Hills, who was initiating a double completed by Mubtaker.
He beat Count Kristo by two and a half lengths and collected 2000 Guineas quotes of 40-1 from Coral and 33-1 from Paddy Power.
The trainer said: “It wasn’t the plan to make the running, but he’s won well. He hasn’t done that much as the horses have been coughing and he’s only just stopped coughing himself.
“I’ve always thought a lot of him. The Champagne Stakes at Doncaster will be considered. He is a nice horse.”
In-form Jimmy Fortune claimed the stanjamesuk.com St Hugh’s Stakes on Sumora (6-1).
He brought Gerard Butler’s two-year-old through from the rear in the five-furlong Listed contest to lead over a furlong out and scoot clear to beat Castelletto by one and a half lengths, with Right Answer three-quarters of a length further back.
Butler is considering sending the daughter of Danehill to Doncaster next month for the Flying Childers Stakes, a race in which his Swiss Lake was runner-up three years ago after winning the St Hugh’s.
“The timing is right. Maybe she’s not another Swiss Lake, but if she gets anywhere near that, we’ll be happy,” he said.
“She got a nice lead there, relaxed very well and I thought she picked up very smartly. I’m hoping she will get further than five furlongs and I’m very pleased. She’s very sweet, and Jimmy likes her because of her attitude and temperament.”
Jamie Mackay, who had gone 22 rides since his last win, forced Strawberry Patch (10-1) home by a neck from Brave Burt in the Andrew Strode-Gibbons Supporting Wessex Heartbeat Handicap.
