Mohaather motors home in Sussex Stakes
Mohaather (4 c ex Roodeye by Inchinor) showed an explosive turn of foot to land the Sussex Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday and in the process became Group 1 winner number three for former Haunui Farm shuttler Showcasing (Oasis Dream).
The Marcus Tregoning-trained four-year-old colt came into the race having landed the Summer Mile (Gr 1, 1m) having finished seventh in the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m), which was won by Circus Maximus (Galileo), who Mohaather reversed the form with on Wednesday.
After spending much of the race at the back, Jim Crowley was forced to come wide on board the Shadwell Stud-raced son of Oasis Dream (Green Desert). But when he found daylight he was able fly past his very classy rivals, beating the Aidan O’Brien-trained Circus Maximus three-quarters of a length, while Irish 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Siskin (First Defence) finished another half a length away in third - bringing to an end his unbeaten record. The 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) had no luck in running and eventually finished fourth.
Tregoning - who was enjoying his first elite level victory since saddling Sir Percy ( Mark Of Esteem) to win the Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f) in 2006 - and he understandably could not hide his joy after the race.
"I've had to wait a long time, but we haven't had the horses,” said Tregoning.
"When we left Lambourn in 2013 we didn't have very many and it was like starting from the beginning again. Luckily, Sheikh Hamdan supported me and I have to give a big plug to his racing manager Angus Gold, who found this horse as a yearling.
"I went to look at him and thought he was quite small, but thought we'll give it a go as Angus is a good judge and we liked the horse's pedigree. It was a tactical race and we thought it would be. I don't blame anyone for that; it's just racing. He struggled to get out as he's not the biggest, but Jim kept his calm and the horse has that massive kick.
"He's very impressive and if he'd got out earlier he'd have won easily – he won easily anyway!
"No trainer can go without a good team of people," added Tregoning, paying tribute to his staff at home.
"That was one of the hardest things starting after the move without some of the loyal people I had in Lambourn - that was a big thing. It took me ten years to build that up, but luckily two of my main people – John Kennedy, who looked after Sir Percy, and Angie Kennedy – came with me.
"It's a big thing to come here and it's a big day for the team – and for Sheikh Hamdan too. He's a very good owner to train for and he's a lot of fun too. He takes adversity really well when things don't go right and it's instilled something in my training horses."
The colt was bred by Gaie Johnson Houghton and was purchased by Shadwell for 110,000gns at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale from the Hillwood Stud draft and he is out of Listed-placed Inchinor (Ahonoora) mare Roodeye, making Mohaather a brother to Grade 2 winner Prize Exhibit.
The colt is also a half-brother to Listed-placed Harbour Master (Harbour Watch) and Roodle (Xaar) - the dam of 2018 Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) winner Accidental Agent (Delegator).
Mohaather joins Quiet Reflection and Advertise as Showcasing’s other Group 1 winners and he stands at Whitsbury Manor Stud where his fee in 2020 was advertised as £55,000.
