Dubai: Champion jockey Jim Crowley completed a double on day two of Chester’s May meeting with tidy wins aboard Khairaat and Mutawatheb, for owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Khairaat showed himself to be an always improving horse when cruising to a decisive victory in the The Legal Landscape Handicap.
With Jim Crowley enjoying a good trip aboard the four-year-old Shamardal colt the result was never in doubt as the pair came home four and a half lengths clear of Brorocco, the mount of Jimmy Quinn.
Raced by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, Khairaat will in all probability be headed to Royal Ascot.
Richard Hills, racing adviser to winning owner Shaikh Hamdan, said: “He’s a horse that we’ve really liked for a while and Sir Michael looked after him last year.
“He had a pretty favourable mark. They didn’t go particularly fast early and he’s always shown a turn of foot at home.
“We always felt that he could turn into a nice horse as a four-year-old and we’d love to see if we can get him to Royal Ascot.
Crowley added: “He’s still a lightly raced baby and when you’re making the running around here there’s lots to look at.
“He’s made the running and had it his way, but he’s a lovely horse and did it nicely.”
Crowley’s second win on the afternoon came aboard joint-favourite Mutawatheb in the Diamond Handicap.
Masham Star holds on for second ahead of Areen Heart with Sharp Defence fourth.
Mutawatheb caught the eye when beaten by Mailshot at Chelmsford.
Meanwhile, Deauville made all the running under Ryan Moore to land the Group 3 Huxley Stakes.
