Haafhd turns on Champion show

Haafhd found redemption in the mud of the Rowley Mile at Newmarket yesterday as he gave Barry Hills a third win in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.

The winner of the 2000 Guineas at the track in May, Haafhd’s two subsequent performances this season had proved bitterly disappointing and he was allowed to go off at 12-1.

But with Hills’ team back to form in recent weeks, confidence had been growing in the run-up to the race that Haafhd could return to his best.

And he proved his well-being with an impressive success in a race in which many of his rivals were paddling in the testing ground by the halfway stage.

The son of Alhaarth, who travelled supremely well throughout, had two and a half lengths to spare over Chorist at the line with Azamour running on for third, a further length back.

In behind, the field finished strung out down the track as the blistering pace set by Godolphin pacemaker Naheef and then by the brave mare Chorist took its toll in the conditions.

Haafhd, on the other hand, never seemed troubled and hacked into the lead under Richard Hills over a furlong out.

Chorist, who had taken over from Naheef at halfway, did her best to battle back under Kieren Fallon as the winner idled in front, but she never really looked like overhauling the leader.

Similarly, Azamour was staying on at one pace throughout the final stages and closing all the way to the line without threatening to throw down a challenge to Haafhd, who was winning his fourth race from five starts at Newmarket and is set to remain in training next season.

“He might have just idled a bit in front, but from halfway you could see he was always going to win,” said the successful trainer, who landed this race before with Cormorant Wood and Storming Home.

“I’m sure he would have won the Irish Guineas had we gone there, but then my horses really didn’t fire from June onwards. I don’t think he ran within 7lb of himself in the St James’s Palace and then in the Sussex my horses were still under a cloud.

“It’s been a painful three or four months but now they are running out of their skin. The tide has turned.

“I’ve always been looking forward to running him over a mile and a quarter and this victory really gives us a few options for next season.

“He has got the speed for the Lockinge, but races like the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte would be in the equation now.”

The winning jockey added: “Haafhd is a true champion. I was always cantering and I knew dad had him spot on when he was kicking and bucking in the paddock. I promised to buy dad a new tie if he won – he’s had the one he’s wearing for 12 years!”

Having been due to enjoy her swansong in this race, the William Haggas-trained Chorist may now have earned an extension to her racing career with such a courageous effort in second.

“She was going to visit King’s Best but I will have to have a talk with Mr and Mrs Thompson now and decide what we will do,” said Chris Richardson of owners Cheveley Park Stud.

“She has run an amazing race when we thought the ground would be much too soft for her and she does seem to be getting better and better.

“I must pay tribute to William and Maureen, who are devoted to her and all but sleep in her box.”

Trainer John Oxx said of Azamour: “He ran a fantastic race. We’re delighted with the way he ran considering he hated the ground. It was just his courage and class that took him there.

“We wanted to run him to find out about the ground because he is going to be faced with the same situation in the future.

“He was glorious in defeat, to be beaten here by the Guineas winner again.

“Michael (Kinane) thought for a moment he just might wear them down. I’m just relieved he ran as well as he did.”

A decision is expected to be taken soon on whether Azamour stays in training.

The race did not go so well for others.

Godolphin hopes Refuse To Bend and the favourite Doyen both finished well beaten after looking in trouble from some way out.

“It was just too soft,” said trainer Saeed Bin Suroor. “You could see from their actions that they were not travelling. It was very disappointing.”

Doyen’s rider Frankie Dettori – who endured a rare day to forget – commented: “I was thinking ‘great’ because I was the last one still on the bridle, but he didn’t handle the ground at all. He just couldn’t go through it.”

It was even worse for Mark Johnston when one of his two leading hopes, Mister Monet, fatally shattered his near-hind leg in the early stages of the race and was immediately pulled up by Kevin Darley, while his other runner Lucky Story beat only Naheef home.

“When I came here today, I would never have believed that neither horse would have finished in the frame,” Johnston said.

“We have to put Lucky Story’s run down to the ground. He was scrambling about very early and just never going.

“It was a freak accident for Mister Monet – Kevin said he felt like something had gone into him from behind, but I don’t think it actually did.”

Clerk of the course Michael Prosser added: “Mister Monet was taken to the Greenwood Ellis veterinary hospital in the town, but he had suffered a triple fracture and there was nothing they could do.

“They had no option but to humanely put him down. It is very sad and our sympathies go out to his connections.”