The blue and white silks of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, seen often in the winner’s enclosure here in South Africa, were to the fore when Muntahaa led a 1-2 for the John Gosden stable in the £500 000 Gr1 York Ebor Handicap on Saturday.
John Gosden (photo: Investec)
The victory by the Shadwell-bred son of Dansili in the hands of Jim Crowley, took his trainer past £5m in prize money for the season, rounding off a terrific few days after Roaring Lion’s win in Wednesday’s Juddmonte International before Stradivarius landed the £1million bonus with victory in the Lonsdale Cup.
The 11-1 shot, who gave his owner his first winner in the Ebor, finished ahead of stablemate and top-weight Weekender (15/2) under jockey Frankie Dettori. Sea The Lion (9/1), ridden by Ronan Whelan, was third for Jarlath Fahey.
Stratum, who was backed down to start at 3-1, endured a difficult passage up the far rail and finished well down the field.
Muntahaa could now be entered for the Melbourne Cup in early November. “His ability has never been in doubt,” Angus Gold, racing manager to the gelding’s owner, told the Racing Post.
