Hard Spun Colt Captures UAE 2000 Guineas

Godolphin Racing's Maftool outfought Mubtaahij through the straight to prevail by a head in the $250,000 UAE 2000 Guineas Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors (UAE-III) on the night of Feb. 12 at Meydan Racecourse.



Having blown the start in his prior race, an allowance Jan. 15 in which Maftool finished five lengths behind Mubtaahij, trainer Saeed bin Suroor used a visor to help the son of Hard Spun   in the gate. The tactic worked as Maftool, ridden by Paul Hanagan, came away smoothly in the 1,600-meter (about one mile) dirt test.



On a night in which bin Suroor and Godolphin won three races, Maftool got the lead in the stretch and was able to deny the South African-trained Mubtaahij, ridden by Patrick Dobbs, in an exciting finish.



"The start was always a worry," Hanagan said. "The visor has certainly helped him today and (he) won well. It is just that stall issue you have to think about, but hopefully he (is) still improving and learning. I am not sure we have seen the best of him yet."



Bred in Kentucky by C. Kidder and J.K. and Linda Griggs, Maftool is out of the Mr. Greeley mare With Intention. The dark bay colt was purchased by Shadwell Estate Co. out of the Gainesway consignment for $260,000 at the 2012 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.



Seven 3-year-olds contested the 2000 Guineas, which is followed on the Dubai World Cup Carnival schedule by  the $2 million UAE Derby (UAE-II) March 28.



Maftool and Mubtaahij were 10 3/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Ajwad. Both the runner-up and third-place finisher are trained by Mike de Kock, a five-time winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas.



Maftool won the seven-furlong Tattersall Somerville Stakes (Eng-III) by 2 1/2 lengths at Newmarket in September. He wrapped up his juvenile campaign at Newmarket with a fifth-place effort in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-I) Oct. 17,  the only time he has missed a top-three finish in seven lifetime starts. He has three wins overall.



Also on the card, Godolphin and bin Suroor won with Tha'Ir, who finished comfortably in front in a 2,000-meter turf handicap, and Songcraft, who won the same 2,400-meter handicap he claimed last year.



"We thought we had good chances with all three," said the trainer. "That is just a great result for everyone involved in the yard."