Mukhadram Eclipses Rivals at Sandown
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Mukhadram shook off pacesetter Somewhat three furlongs out and comfortably won the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (Eng-I) July 5 at Sandown Park.
Runner-up after showing the way in the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) March 29, the 5-year-old son of Shamardal got an ideal stalking trip in the Eclipse, tracking from second as 100-1 longshot Somewhat set a solid pace. Last year's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Ire-I) winner Trading Leather pursued from third and overtook the Somewhat more than a furlong out, but never threatened the winner.
Mukhadram scored by two lengths at 14-1 odds and covered about 1 1/4 miles in 2:04.47 on firm turf to earn his first group I victory. Somewhat held on for third, three-quarters of a length behind Trading Leather in the nine-horse field. The Fugue, favored at 5-2, never was a factor in a sixth-place finish.
"We went a nice gallop and it just suited perfectly," winning rider Paul Hanagan told England's Press Association.
Mukhadram has a 5-3-1 record from 13 career starts for owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum and trainer William Haggas. In his 2014 debut in the World Cup, he set the pace but was overtaken by African Story 200 meters out and finished second. He was subsequently fourth behind The Fugue in the Prince of Wales's (Eng-I) in June at Royal Ascot.
Mukhadram placed in four of five starts in 2013, winning the Brigadier Gerard Stakes Stakes (Eng-III) at Sandown at the Eclipse distance. He then finished second in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, and then third in the Eclipse, bested by Al Kazeem and Declaration of War. He came back and won the York Stakes (Eng-II) but dropped his season finale in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (Eng-I), finishing fifth on soft ground.
"We've always believed in him and I'm thrilled for everyone he's gone and done it today," Haggas said, adding he plans to target the July 26 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-I) at Ascot next.
Completing the order of finish was Kingston Hill in fourth, followed by True Story, The Fugue, War Command, Night of Thunder, and Verrazano .
William Buick, The Fugue's rider, said the ground had become loose and the mare did not like it.
Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Estate Co. paid 190,000 guineas ($329,394 in U.S. funds) to acquire Mukhadram as a weanling from consignor Trickledown Stud, agent, at the 2009 Tattersalls December foal sale.
Bred in Great Britain by Wardall Bloodstock, he is out of the Timber Country mare Magic Tree, a U.A.E.-bred half sister to English classic winner Mastery and French group I winner Kirklees. Mukhadram is a half brother to stakes-placed Woodland Aria.