Mudaaraah steps up for the stamina challenge

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's filly is untested over 10 furlongs but is fancied in the big race at Ascot, England.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's Mudaaraah is fancied in the big race at Ascot, England tomorrow. John Dunlop, the trainer, is a maestro with stamina-laden three-year-olds, and looks to have another likely sort for the Princess Royal Transformers And Rectifiers EBF Harvest Stakes. The Cape Cross filly has yet to be tested over more than 10 furlongs, but has the correct pedigree to take within her stride this step up to a mile and a half.

Indeed, her recent effort in a mile-and-a-quarter Listed heat at Salisbury, where she was doing her best work towards the line, would also suggest this longer trip is the way forward. Although she has consistently paid her way this season, Mudaaraah's juvenile form is probably of greater interest. Her second behind Sent From Heaven in the Prestige Stakes, in which none other than Snow Fairy finished behind her that day, is obviously of the highest order.

And with three-year-olds having dominated the roll of honour for this race in recent years, Sheikh Hamdan's filly could well be the pick of the litter. Meanwhile, Godolphin's Antara, Flying Cloud and Hibaayeb are in the 34-strong entry list for the Pride Stakes at Newmarket on October 16. The Dubai-based racing operation had another winner yesterday when Male Model, trained by Mahmood al Zarooni and ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi, was first past the post in the EBF Maiden Stakes at Redcar, England.

* Agencies