The most anticipated Purebred Arabian race of the year moved a step closer on Tuesday when connections of Al Mourtajez revealed he could have a warm-up race before defending his title in the Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood in August.
Al Mourtajez has not been seen since he was foiled in his bid to land the US$1 million (Dh3.67m) Qatari Triple Crown in Doha in February. He recently returned to training after a break at Thomas Fourcy’s yard in France.
The seven-year-old has a real fight on his hands this season to remain champion, with Muraaqib, belonging to Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Minister of Finance, now a legitimate pretender to his crown after his victory at Deauville on Sunday.
“Al Mourtajez returned to Thomas three weeks ago and is back in training,” Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, French racing manager to owners Al Shaqab, confirmed to The National on Tuesday. “He has been progressing really well, and Thomas is very happy with him.”
“We’re looking loosely at the Goodwood race, the Prix Dragon and then the Qatar Arabian World Cup. Everything this season is based around that race and it is our main aim.
“Whether we have a lead-in to Goodwood, we will just have to see but it is something we are thinking about.”
Pritchard-Gordon was at Deauville on Sunday and liked what he saw.
“Muraaqib has always been a very good horse and he was very impressive at Deauville,” he said. “It was a good field and he showed great acceleration. He is going to be a tough rival to have around.”
Sheikh Hamdan has the final decision about whether Muraaqib will take part in a clash with Al Mourtajez and there are several reasons why the heavyweight bout could well come to fruition.
The Goodwood contest is not a race that has previously drawn support from Sheikh Hamdan, as it is staged so soon after his cherished Dubai International Arabian race day at Newbury.
This season he has two high-class Purebred Arabians with Handassa, the Dubai Kahayla Classic fourth, on course to represent him at Newbury over 2,000 metres on July 30 in the Dubai International Stakes, a race he was won 13 times previously.
That could then free up the five year old Muraaqib to grapple with Al Mourtajez three days later at Goodwood over 1,600m.
“I don’t mind where we race against Al Mourtajez,” Rohaut said. “We can meet on any track. When you have a horse like ours you want to prove he is the best. If you don’t try, we will never know.
“Last year we didn’t want to run against him, because we thought we might hurt our horse. Now he is ready to fight. I hope it will happen one day.
“He has the speed to drop down to a mile. The mile of Goodwood is a tough one so it will be perfect for him.
“He can do anything you ask him to do. He is very easy, is a nice horse to train and he can run on any ground. He is still improving and that was just his seventh race. He is a champion. That is all.
“Handassa is OK. He has had a month’s rest at Shadwell in Newmarket and has just got home. We will probably go to Newbury with him.”
At York Racecourse in England on Wednesday Godolphin rely on a three-pronged attack at the Group 2 sprint over 1,200m.
Comicas, who was a fine second to Mind Your Biscuits in the Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan in March, returns to turf under James Doyle.
Jungle Cat, who was fourth in the Al Quoz Sprint, and Baccarat, who was 11th, also take part with William Buick and Adam Kirby in the respective saddles.
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