Ektihaam primed for Royal Ascot

Dubai: Trainer Roger Varian has handed would-be star Ektihaam an assignment that has long been merited — a shot at the Group 2 £200,000 (Dh1.11 million) Hardwicke Stakes, one of the highlights of Royal Ascot’s prestigious five-day extravaganza, next month.

The son of Invincible Spirit had looked an exciting juvenile when finishing a spirited runner-up to Bonfire in last season’s Dante Stakes (G2) at York, but failed to blossom in two subsequent starts during his three-year-old career. But, after consulting with Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, in whose colours Ektihaam runs, Varian took the decision to geld the colt at the end of the season.

The move appeared to have paid off handsomely when Ektihaam produced one of the best performances of his career, posting a thumping six-length victory in the Listed Buckhounds Stakes over a mile-and-a-half at Ascot two weeks ago.

With regular partner Paul Hanagan in the saddle, Varian’s protege delivered an above-par, front-running effort to outclass former King Edward VII Stakes (G2) scorer Thomas Chippendale and Lingield Derby Trial (G2) winner Main Sequence.

The performance has delighted Varian, who took over the reins from legendary trainer Michael Jarvis’ Kremlin House Stables in 2011 and has made a very promising start to his career with six Group victories.

“He really thrived after his first run back and we took him to Ascot earlier this month for the Listed Buckhounds Stakes with a view to letting him stroll on, as he had been pulling quite hard,” Varian said in the Racing Post Weekender Stable Tour.

“It was certainly the right thing to do as he led at a decent pace and then lengthened in the straight, coming home an easy six lengths clear. That form stacks up strongly and I couldn’t have been happier with the colt. He won’t run again until Royal Ascot, where we have prioritised the Hardwicke Stakes. He clearly relished every yard of the mile-and-a-half last time so we have to be hopeful going there,” Varian said.

A giant horse, Ektihaam was a £284,418 purchase by Shaikh Hamdan’s bloodstock adviser and racing manager Angus Gold at the 2009 Tattersalls December Sale.

Shaikh Hamdan has previously won the Hardwicke on four occasions, with Almaarad (1988), Jeune (1993) and Maraahel (2007, 08).

The race, which takes place on the final day of the annual festival, was won last year by Sea Moon, who gave trainer Sir Michael Stoute a record seventh success in the race after Dihistan (1986), Rock Hopper (1991, 1992), Maraahel (2006, 2007) and Harbinger (2010).

This year’s Royal Ascot meeting runs from June 18-22.