Punters can get a parting gift from Hoo Ya Mal
Hoo Ya Mal is emigrating to Australia, but has unfinished business before starting a new life on the other side of the world.
And on Saturday, there’s the small matter of running a mighty race in the Cazoo St Leger for a farewell.
Derby runner-up at a colossal price of 150/1, Hoo Ya Mal is the last colt standing to represent Epsom form in the staying Classic.
He’s 8/1 to claim Doncaster glory for connections, a syndicate led by Sir Owen Glenn, who swooped on the eve of Royal Ascot in a £1.2-million deal and promptly mapped out a fascinating plan.
Hoo Ya Mal is bound for the powerhouse Australian yard of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who’ll take over preparations for the Melbourne Cup in November.
Since the purchase, he’s left Andrew Balding’s care for George Boughey, who has overseen two runs at Goodwood.
The first was less than two lengths behind odds-on St Leger favourite, New London, when Ryan Moore dropped his whip on Hoo Ya Mal with a furlong to go.
The second was a smooth success in the March Stakes over a small field, up in trip to 1m 6f for the first time.
Boughey has proved adept at readying a Classic winner with Cachet in this season’s 1000 Guineas, the 31-year-old trainer’s top-level breakthrough.
William Buick, jockey for New London on Saturday, did the steering at Goodwood – one of the Godolphin No. 1 jockey’s eight wins over last weekend.
A call-up for David Probert to ride Hoo Ya Mal at Doncaster is hardly a negative, however, given his fine form this campaign.
Probert reckons the Territories colt is “most definitely” his best chance of riding a first Group One winner after eight career victories at the rung below.
The classiest danger is obviously New London. Charlie Appleby doesn’t normally test his finest at Chester and there may be fewer contenders heading to the Roodee in future from the yard. He flopped round the tight turns in May, but that’s the only blip in a career back on a upward curve.
A handicap at Newmarket’s July meeting was a breeze before taking the Gordon Stakes.
Just as Hurricane Lane was when blowing away the opposition for Godolphin 12 months ago, he’s going off a hot favourite. Second best in the market is Eldar Eldarov, who won the Queens Vase at Royal Ascot.
Zechariah, beaten a nose in second in that contest, has ‘strong stayer’ stamped all over him, and defeated elders at Newbury last time for Freddie and Martyn Meade.
However, Hoo Ya Mal can give New London most to worry about on Town Moor.