Dubai Trainer Charlie Hills believes Muhaarar ‘has the world at his feet’ after the Shadwell-bred colt annihilated his rivals to win the inaugural running of the £375,000 (Dh2.1 million) Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot on Friday.
The son of Oasis Dream announced himself as a potential star of the future by winning the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York last August and then endorsed that conviction when battling hard for victory in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April.
However, his coming-of-age victory was delivered in exemplary style in a race that has been put in place as a Europe-wide measure to create a better Pattern for young sprinters and improve the quality of sprint races on the continent.
Limato, the mount of James Doyle, ran on from the back of the field to take second while Pat Smullen on Anthem Alexander was third.
Dane O’Neill, wearing the colours of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, rode a confident race aboard Muhaarar to end his 16-year wait for a fifth Royal Ascot victory since his 1999 double with Lots Of Magic and Bold Edge.
Hills, who was picking up a third win at the famous meeting, was full of praise for the winner who he opined was the best horse he’d ever trained.
“Chriselliam was very good but this guy is very good. He’s very versatile as well,” said Hills, who is based in the picturesque village of Lambourn in Berkshire.
“He showed a lot of speed today and he gets better and better with racing. He’s still improving so there’s a lot to look forward to. Obviously he ran over a mile last time and was in the Jersey but Shaikh Hamdan made the decision to come here and for all the right reasons.
“It’s a Group 1 and it looked a proper race. He did it in such great style and on such fast style. He’s not really ground dependent. We’ll have a look at all those nice races because he’s got the world at his feet.”
Muhaarar appeared to be moving smoothly for most of the 1,200-metre (200km) trip before he changed gears in the final furlong and bound away to win by four lengths.
The Commonwealth Cup joins the King’s Stand Stakes and Diamond Jubilee Stakes as the third Group 1 sprint at Royal Ascot.
Meanwhile, Belgian ace Christophe Soumillion rode a blinder aboard French raider Ervedya to win the Group 1 Coronation Stakes, an event that attracts horses that have run in the English, Irish and French 1,000 Guineas.
Ervedya, trained by French handler Jean-Claude Rouget and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, won the Group One Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Team Godolphin’s Lucida ran her heart out under Kevin Manning, but just failed to close the gap on the winner, while Irish hope Found finished second in the hands of Ryan Moore.
There was something to celebrate for UAE racing fans when Balios, representing Al Asayl Bloodstock, landed the Group 2 King Edward Stakes for three year olds.
The winner was ridden by Jamie Spencer, who was notching a 2st Royal Ascot win, while trainer David Simcock was opening his accounting at the event.
Balios was bred by Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the eldest son and Advisor to The President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
