Dubai: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance’s vintage summer, just keeps getting better and better.

At the time of writing Shaikh Hamdan’s colours have been carried to victory in over 120 races in Great Britain and Ireland alone with the majority of the successes being delivered by his smart juveniles and horses from the Classic generation.

His most recent success came courtesy the Nayef colt Snoano, who impressed when landing a Conditions event at Newbury on Friday.

Statistics show that Shaikh Hamdan has had 541 runners this season with 200 of his horses being placed including 92 who finished runner-up. A further 58 have finished third while 51 occupied fourth place.

Besides the three big Group 1 successes that he has enjoyed, courtesy the brilliant Taghrooda and Mukhadram, Shaikh Hamdan has seen his runners accrue a string of Group victories with the two most recent being delivered by Tarfasha in the Moyglare ‘Jewel’s Blandford Stakes at the Curragh and Estidhkaar in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

Estidhkaar marked himself out as a Guineas horse with his notable win encouraging trainer Richard Handon to say that he will thrive when stepped up to a mile.

A son of Dark Angel Estidhkaar is 25-1 with British bookmakers Ladbrokes for next year’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas with stablemate Ivawood, whose next race will be the Middle Park Stakes (Newmarket, October 17), the overall 8-1 favourite.

Estidhkaar also holds an entry for the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (G1) at Newmarket, on October 17 and the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on October 25.

Following his Champagne Stakes victory Hannon reported: “He again showed that he is one of the best two-year-olds around.

“He had to shoulder his 3lb penalty there, but the natural progression now would be step him up to a Group 1, and he could meet them all at levels in the Dewhurst, which is likely to be his next race.

“They did not go fast enough for him, but he is a real trier and when he eventually got into his long stride he was always going to win.”

Speaking on his website, the trainer added: “He is crying out for a mile and we are lucky to have two legitimate Guineas horses in him and Ivawood.”