Malmoos, Malathaat Provide Shadwell With Grade 1 Double

Shadwell continued to demonstrate its worldwide power with a grade 1 double over the weekend, with strikes from Malathaat  and Malmoos in America and South Africa respectively providing further fine tributes to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, the founder and owner of the operation who died at the age of 75 last month. 

Malmoos, a son of Captain Al  and the winner of seven of his eight starts, was making history when completing the country's Triple Crown with a smooth victory in the World Sports Betting SA Derby (G1) at Turffontein. 

Bred by Varsfontein Stud, the 3-year-old has risen right to the top of the tree in the past few months and was joining South African legends in Horse Chestnut  and Louis the King  in completing the task.

Out of Justthewayyouare—a stakes-winning daughter of Sheikh Mohammed's Grand Prix de Paris (G1) and Prix Noallies (G2) winner Fort Wood—Malmoos is a brother to South African grade 3 scorer Captain Splendid. His dam is herself a half sister to grade 2 winner Master of My Fate  and out of Triple Tiara heroine Promisefrommyheart . 

The colt was the second top lot at the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale when selling to Shadwell for 4.4 million rand (US$308,440). 

Malathaat then completed the top-level double when maintaining her unbeaten record in the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, starting off her seasonable reappearance after the traditional 10 days of mourning for Sheikh Hamdan had ended the night before. 

Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, the daughter of Curlin   and Frizette Stakes (G1) heroine Dreaming of Julia  was a $1.05 million purchase from Denali Stud when selling at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2019. 

On the decision to run the Todd Pletcher-trained Malathaat in the grade 1—which all but guaranteed a spot for next month's Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1)—Shadwell's general manager Rick Nichols told BloodHorse: "We angled her toward the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), but when Sheikh Maktoum passed years ago, Sheikh Hamdan called me and said, 'Please don't run any of our horses during a 10-day mourning period.' So, I asked Todd Pletcher, 'What about the Ashland?' He said, 'That would be great'. The 10 days of mourning ended last night."

Nichols continued: "I can't put it into words. I am sure (Sheikh Hamdan) is up there with a big smile on his face looking down on us. We really needed this.

"I think (Malathaat) might be pretty special. We will see if we can get in the (Kentucky) Oaks and see what we can get done."

Malathaat, who was unbeaten in three starts at 2, is the third foal out of Dreaming of Julia, herself a relation to dual grade 3 dirt winner Dream Pauline . The pair are out of Prioress Stakes (G1) and Darley Test Stakes(G1) stakes heroine Dream Rush  who made $3.3 million when selling at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's premier breeding stock sale near Lexington, in 2007.