Sandown Park, England// Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's European season continued to flourish on Saturday after Mukhadram carried his blue and white silks to success in the Group 1 race with victory in the Eclipse Stakes under Paul Hanagan.
Mukhadram made up for the disappointment of last year’s third-place finish by upsetting six individual Group 1 winners in the 10-furlong (2,000 metres) event, including Dubai World Cup night runner The Fugue, who was never a factor.
To further embroider Mukhadram’s success with the red, green, white and black colours of the UAE, Godolphin’s Trading Leather chased him home for second, while rank outsider and pacemaker Somewhat, owned by Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed, was third.
There was no luck for Godolphin's True Story again, as the racecourse was hit by late rain that scuppered any hope of the colt justifying the faith of Saeed bin Suroor and Keiren Fallon. The black son of Manduro finished fifth behind Kingston Hill and Frankie Dettori.
Taghrooda and Tarfasha were first and second for the Minister of Finance in the English Oaks last month, and Mustajeeb and Muwaary also occupied the first two places in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot three weeks ago.
Mukhadram ripped a shoe off on the eve of the Dubai World Cup in March and, having yesterday shown the sort of form that resulted in him putting two lengths on Trading Leather, William Haggas is right to wonder whether the world’s most valuable race slipped from his grasp.
“We felt he was stronger this year and he spent the Friday of the World Cup, in which he was second, in his box,” Haggas said.
“He has delivered today. I am thrilled for his jockey, who is having a stellar year. An operation like Shadwell should be having Group 1 winners and I am delighted to provide one for the Sheikh.”
Mukhadram and Trading Leather could head to Ascot next, where they could clash with impressive Hardwicke Stakes winner Telescope in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the end of the month.
Haggas could barely be looking forward to it more. “I would like to persuade His Highness to run him in the King George,” Haggas said. “He is a resolute galloper and has a lot of stamina on his dam side.”
Mukhadram has made a career out of front-running tactics, but with Somewhat for company Hanagan was content to sit in behind, where he could still control proceedings.
“It helped a lot Somewhat set the fractions as it was something to aim at,” the jockey said. “He has always been out in front doing the donkey work. It felt really good.”
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