Crowley’s delight as Mohaather turns on the speed
JIM CROWLEY’S description of Qatar Sussex Stakes hero Mohaather as an “absolute aeroplane” should be placed in racing context.
It’s a phrase also applied to Crowley’s star sprinter Battaash who will seek an unprecedented fourth victory in the King George Stakes at Goodwood tomorrow.
And it’s a measure of Mohaather’s devastating burst of acceleration after a compelling Sussex Stakes – the first Group One race over a mile for top thoroughbreds of all ages.
Unlike 2000 Guineas hero Kameko who never got a clear run, and was the unluckiest fourth of the year under Oisin Murphy, Mohaather escaped from behind a wall of horses just in time for the after-burners to kick in and provide trainer Marcus Tregoning with his most notable success since Sir Derby’s win in the Epsom Derby in 2006.
In the end Mohaather, owned, like Battaassh, by Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, won pulling away from Aidan O’Brien’s Circus Maximus with Irish 2000 Guineas victor Siskin back in third after losing ground at the start.
Yet, while Goodwood’s camber places a premium on horsemanship and race-riding, Mohaather was still a worthy winner and the four-year-old, small in stature, has a champion miler’s presence. A potential rematch with the luckless Kameko will be fascinating.
“He’s an absolute aeroplane,” enthused Crowley who, incredibly, started out as a National Hunt rider at Sue and Harvey Smith’s stables on Baildon Moor before switching codes.
“Obviously, I wanted to ride him a little bit more forward today – and by doing that, we were in a bit of a pocket the whole way, and got shuffled back, so he’s done it the hard way.
“He’s had to come round them, and still won well. Everything went wrong for him – if I’d sat last, maybe ridden him more confidently, he’d probably have been more impressive.
“This is serious – that race there, you’re talking about the best milers in Europe. I wouldn’t say he’s made them look ordinary, but he won very well.”
Meanwhile, Tregoning, now based at Whitsbury, was overcome with emotion after landing his first Group One since Sir Percy’s Derby triumph 14 years ago as he paid tribute to Mohaather’s owner.
Tregoning said “I’ve had to wait a long time. We obviously haven’t quite had the horses. When we left Lambourn we didn’t start with very many again. But luckily, Sheikh Hamdan has supported me well.
“I have to say big thanks to (racing manager) Angus Gold because he found this horse as a yearling, and asked me to go and look at him. I went and looked at him and thought ‘oh no, he’s quite small’.
“But then I thought Dominica wasn’t even 15 hands, and she won the King’s Stand first time out as a three-year-old – so I thought ‘give it a go, he’s a good judge’.
He added: “It was a bit of a nightmare to watch, but I knew if he got out he would have the speed to get there – he’s got a very good turn of foot, as you can see.
“I know it’s a well-used expression, but he does find heaps for pressure and I knew coming into this race he was really firing on all cylinders. He’s done nothing but thrive. He’s not the biggest, but he’s got a lot of quality about him – he’s a beautiful horse and we’re so lucky to have him.”
Considering future plans,
Tregoning added: “That (Breeders’ Cup Mile) is always possible. We know you need tactical speed around those tight tracks (in America) and this horse has so much pace.
“I love watching him at home – he could do anything and he’s just a pleasure to be around.
“There’s that lovely mile race on Champions Day (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot) and he’s in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, although that might come a bit quick for him, we’ll just have to see.”
There was some compensation for Siskin’s jockey Colin Keane courtesy of the win of Steel Bull, trained in Ireland by Michael O’Callaghan, in the Group Three Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes for two-year-olds.
After opting to travel to Goodwood, Keane faces 14 days in quarantine when he returns to Ireland, but the trip was a successful one after overhauling North Yorkshire challenger Ben Macdui who was second for trainer Kevin Ryan and jockey Kevin Stott.
Earlier the Richard Hannontrained Mambo Nights made it three wins from as many starts this season with victory in the Unibet 3 Boosts A Day Handicap staged over a mile and-a-half for three-year-olds.
It was a poignant success for winning jockey Andrea Atzeni and owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum following the sad passing of 2019 Coronation Cup hero Defoe.
Trained by Roger Varian, Defoe suffered a fatal injury on the Newmarket gallops less than a week after stablemate Mountain Angel, a Royal Ascot victor, had suffered a similar fate.
Paying tribute to Defoe, Atzeni remarked: “It was very sad news. Losing any horse is sad, but Defoe is really close to us and the team at Roger Varian’s.
“I remember flying to Ffos Las to ride him first time out in his maiden.
“He was a horse who gave us a lot of great days. He won a Coronation Cup, the Hardwicke last year (Royal Ascot) and he ran well in Dubai. He has been very close to our heart.
“I was actually hoping one day I could have him in the paddocks at my house so I could look after him in his older days, but it wasn’t meant to be.
“It is what it is – it’s just very sad news.”
This is serious – you’re talking about the best milers in Europe. Jockey Jim Crowley, following his success in the Sussex Stakes with Mohaather