Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s horses continue to shine in Britain as Tasleet wins at Chelmsford

Tasleet holds off late thrust of Knife Edge in Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Chelmsford, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

Paul Hanagan riding Tasleet, left, win the Greenham Stakes from Knife Edge, right, at Chelmsford on Saturday. Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Tasleet kept up the good form of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s horses in Britain when the three-year-old colt narrowly held off the late thrust of Ballydoyle’s Knife Edge in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Chelmsford on Saturday.

The seven-race card was switched at the eleventh hour from Newbury on Friday after heavy rain washed out the Dubai Duty Free-backed meeting.

It was a second victory in the 1,400-metre contest in succession after the Minister Of Finance struck in the race 12 months ago with Muhaarar.

Muhaarar subsequently went on to land the inaugural Group 1 Commonwealth Cup over 1,200 metres at Royal Ascot en route to being crowned European champion sprinter and Tasleet, a son of sprinter Showcasing, could well go down the same route.

“I think we have got to see what Sheikh Hamdan has in the Guineas and whether he would like another runner,” trainer William Haggas said.

“There is a strong possibility he will go for the Comonwealth Cup or the Jersey Stakes [1,400 metres] at Royal Ascot. I’m not sure he will be better at a mile.”

Following the late switch, Tasleet faced only two rivals, with Godolphin’s Log Out Island extremely keen going down to the starting gates under James Doyle and effectively spoiled his chances.

Paul Hanagan, Tasleet’s jockey, had to contend with the set alight Log Out Island on his outer as soon as the gates opened, while Ryan Moore sat in his slipstream on the inner aboard Knife Edge. Little changed for much of the race but in the short straight Log Out Island dropped away as Knife Edge loomed to deliver a persistent challenge to go down by a short head.

Earlier in the day, Sheikh Rashid’s Besharah was given a poor ride by Pat Cosgrave in the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes over 1,400 metres when third to Richard Hannon’s Marenko and Light Up Our World.

The filly looked no bigger or stronger than last season when she won the Group 2 Lowther Stakes and Cosgrave had his mount too far back for her to ever land a blow.

Besharah never really appeared competitive anyway, however, and she too looks booked for a return to sprinting instead of a run in the English 1,000 Guineas in a fortnight.

“I’d be staggered if she gets a mile,” Haggas added. “She was bought to be a two-year-old and was a good one. She might well run in the 1,000 Guineas, but I would absolutely staggered if she won.”

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport