Maljoom begins his 2025 campaign in the Listed BetMGM Tandridge Stakes over a mile at Lingfield Park today.
The six-year-old posted some high-class efforts last year, including finishing third to Charyn in the Gr1 Queen Anne Stakes and second to Notable Speech in the Gr1 Sussex Stakes.
Lingfield Park plays host to the racemeeting today (Pic – Lingfield Park on FB)
A winner on his sole all-weather start at Kempton Park in 2022, Maljoom makes his first appearance since finishing sixth in the Gr2 Solonaway Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend.
Trainer William Haggas said: “Maljoom is fine. He has been back in work for a while now and we are looking forward to getting him started.
“He was slowly away in his races last year, which undoubtedly cost him the race at Leopardstown, so we have done quite a bit of stalls work with him.
“He had a go in the stalls at Chelmsford the other day and was good, so hopefully that has been ironed out but today will tell us more.
“I hope this will not be his only race this winter as, depending how he gets on here, he could go to Dubai for the Dubai Turf.
“It would be nice to get a Group One with him as he performed well at that level last year. His run in the Sussex Stakes especially was very good.”
Leading all-weather performer Tyrrhenian Sea heads the opposition as he chases a second Listed success at the track, following last season’s BetUK Quebec Stakes.
Roger Varian’s runner has made the frame in all three of his subsequent starts, latterly chasing home Royal Champion when trying to defend his BetUK Quebec Stakes title.
The Ed Walker-trained Popmaster has posted some solid efforts so far this winter, most notably finishing third behind Poker Face in the Listed Hyde Stakes at Kempton Park.
Dual turf scorer Imperial Express seeks her first all-weather success for Andrew Balding, while Red Maids, a three-time winner at Newcastle this season, completes the field for Mark Rimell.
The exciting Rebel’s Gamble is among the headliners at Southwell on Friday as he goes in the Weekly Free Bets With BetMGM Extra Handicap (6.15pm) over six furlongs.
The three-year-old looks to defy a mark of 95 on his handicap debut for Karl Burke, having won novice races at Southwell and Newcastle, the latter by five and a half lengths.
Humam also lines up in a handicap for the first time, with Andrew Balding’s runner coming in on the back of a novice success at Lingfield Park.
Richard Fahey’s Yes I’m Mali and the James Ferguson-trained Cyclonite meet again after filling the places behind So Darn Hot on AWC Trials Day at Newcastle.
The Actor makes his stable debut for Julie Camacho, with his efforts for previous trainer Richard Hannon including a third in the Listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown Park.
- The Lingfield fixture gets underway at 15h02.
