Dubai: Nafaqa ran a brave race for former champion jockey Paul Hanagan but had to settle for second place behind Kool Kompany in the Group 3 Craven Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse yesterday.
Trained by Barry Hills for owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, Nafaqa was bidding to repeat the winning performance another Hills protege, Haafhd, in the race which is an important trial for the 2,000 Guineas (G1) in three weeks time.
Hanagan was hard at work aboard Nafaqa in the final stages of the 1600-metre contest but could not chip away at the winner’s lead and had to settle for second spot, 1 1/2 lengths behind.
Champion jockey Richard Hughes, who will retire at the end of the season, rode a big race aboard Kool Kompany, who was providing trainer Richard Hannon Jr, with a second Group victory in as many day’s at the event. On Wednesday, the Wiltshire based handler saddled Osaili to win the Group 3 Nell Gywn Stakes, a notable trials for the 1,000 Guineas.
British bookmakers Sky Bet responded to Kool Komany’s battling victory by slashing the winner’s odds to 25/1 (from 66s) for the colt’s Classic which will be run at Newmarket on May 2.
Second reverse
It was the second reverse for Hanagan, who was narrowly denied victory by Godolphin pilot James Doyle in the Swan At Lavenham Wood Ditton Stakes, a race that traditionally produces stars of the future like Eclipse Stakes (G1) sensation Mukhadram.
Doyle delivered a confident ride aboard the Saeed Bin Surour-trained Winter House to edge out the Michael Stoute-trained Mustaaqeem by a neck
Bin Suroor was delighted with the results and said: “He will learn a lot from this race. He has been doing well in the mornings, but he is still a bit green. He didn’t behave himself last year, but he is a different horse this year.
“He was only 80 per cent fit for today and I am sure he will improve for it. The next race for him will be a Listed race at Windsor on the May 11.”
Doyle was denied a quick double when Greatest Journey was beaten a neck by Ryan Moore’s Cape Clear Island in the £200,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy over 1,800m.
A head back in third was Rocky Rider, ridden by Italian rider Andrea Atzeni with Tannaaf came with a late run to take fourth place for jockey Dane O’Neill.
Godolphin would claim a second victory on the afternoon when 3/1 favourite French Navy 3/1F ran out an impressive 3/4 length winner over the Ptere Chapple-Hyam trained Arod in the Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes.
