Unbeaten! Glen Hatt forces Mujaarib up late to win the Gr2 Emperors Palace Charity Mile
Mike De Kock pulled the proverbial rabbit out of the hat when the undefeated Mujaarib got up in the final strides to win the R600 000 Gr2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile at Turffontein on Saturday. The champion trainer saddled four of the first five runners past the post, with only Link Man disappointing him.
While charity was the big winner on the day, this was not exactly a dream result for most punters. And the Nadeem colt’s win signalled a second Group success for Australian bloodstock on the afternoon.
There was plenty of hype with Princess Charlene of Monaco on course and Phumelela innovatingly promoting the event with betting innovations like the all-to-come and the payment of dividends up to fifth place.
Weak Fancy
Sixteen horses went to post with Pierre Jourdan eventually priced up a weak 6-1 favourite, with Link Man, Snowdon, Whiteline Fever and Silver Flyer also attracting plenty of interest.
They jumped to a level start with Bernard Fayd’Herbe taking Snowdon up early to lead from The Mouseketeer, Potala Palace and Astro News, while Golden Crest was stalked by Whiteline Fever.
In the second troop, Smanjemanje led Meadow Magic and Mujaarib while Silent Partner, Link Man , Silver Flyer, Glorious Jet and Pierre Jourdan were further afield.
Wittenberg took over the lead at around the 1200m and the pace stepped up at the 1000m marker as the Woodruff horse led into the straight. Our hearts were in our throats as The Mouseketeer also powered forward looking dangerous ahead of a wide fanning cavalry charge of hopes and dreams.
At this point Marcus had Whiteline Fever dashing down the inside rail with Meadow Magic plugging on as Potala Palace loomed up down the centre.
Horizon
Top Ride. Glen Hatt piloted Mujaarib to a great win in the Gr2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile
All the while Glen Hatt was hard at work on Mujaarib who was being produced down the wide outside from some way back.
In a nailbiting drive to the line Hatt extricated an ounce more out of Mujaarib, to collar Whiteline Fever in a photo-finish. Silver Flyer looked to have been squeezed between the first two and this may have cost him at a crucial stage.
The Emerald Cup winner Meadow Magic ran a cracker to stay on for third 1,50 lengths back on his own down the rail.
Glen Hatt,who has an impressive strike rate for De Kock, said that Mujaarib had given him a ‘great feel’ after having dropped the bit around the turn. He also said it was a meritorious win as his mount had run in snatches and was very green in stages.
Trainer Mike De Kock added that his charge had been ‘well handicapped’ and sportingly lamented the 6 pound penalty incurred by Sean Tarry’s Whiteline Fever for winning a Pinnacle Plate last time.
“That was ultimately the difference between winning and losing,” said De Kock.
He also excitedly pointed out that Mujaarib was still a maiden just over 4 months ago. We have said it before-when De Kock comes to town, anything is possible.
De Kock may also be able to hold his own Summer Cup after this race. Silver Flyer looks well set for a big bid for glory there on this forward showing, and De Kock seems to have a host of other potential runners too.
Mujaarib won by a head in a time of 96,50 secs.
Post-mortems
The inevitable disappointments in a race of this nature were there.
On the face of it, Mike Azzie’s Potala Palace may have been disappointing, finishing 1,25 lengths behind the pacy, The Mouseketeer. But he did return from a seven month break and only finished 6 lengths back. Potala Palace also looked dangerous at one stage.
The weak 6-1 favourite Pierre Jourdan was always to the rear after taking a bump early and plodded into 12th position and fourteen lengths behind. His racing future looks uncertain and it may be time for the connections to accept that even good horses lose their enthusiasm for the things they used to do so well.
Our old friend Link Man finished third last and 26 lengths behind. He is getting just too inconsistent to be taken very seriously anymore and he gives the term ‘gambling’ a whole new angle and edge!
Ormonde Ferraris’ Snowdon finished stone last and 38 lengths behind the winner. We have not yet had the opportunity to view the stipes report, but there must be a feasible explanation for this poor showing from a horse who has been a model of consistency.
Performer
Mujaarib has won four from four and has now earned R 521 250.
Winning Owner. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum
He races in the famous white and blue Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum silks. He was bred by Shadwell Stud and is by Nadeem – the first Group 1 winning son of Champion sire Redoute’s Choice to stand in New Zealand. Mujaarib is out of the Lahib mare, Mihnah.
Nadeem was a A$700,000 Sydney Easter Sale purchase rewarding his owners Shadwell Stud with a Group 3 win in the Maribyrnong Plate at only his second start. He then put up a stunning performance to beat Miss Finland and Wonderful World in Victoria’s showpiece, the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
His oldest progeny are 4 year olds with five individual stakes winners in Australia from his first crop and another 5 placed at black type level. This includes Tajmeel, also trained by De Kock, who won the Gr2 Clairwood Gold Circle Oaks.
The winning charity, the Animal Anti-Cruelty League was the beneficiary of the main prize for an extraordinary third year in succession.
For now, Mujaarib could be the next big thing to capture the racing public’s imagination.
Don’t be surprised to see him in Cape Town in the first week of February.
Result:
Charity Mile (fomerly November Hcp) (SAf-G2) (11/3)
Turffontein, South Africa, November 3, R600.000, 1600m, turf, good, 1.36.50
(CR 1.35.44).
MUJAARIB (AUS), 52.0, br c 4, Nadeem (AUS) – Mihnah (IRE) by Lahib (USA).
Owner Sheik Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum; bred in Australia; trainer MF de
Kock; jockey G Hatt (R375.000)
Whiteline Fever (SAF), 58.5, b g 4, Right Approach (GB) – Hockey Corner
(SAF) by Sportsworld (USA)
Meadow Magic (SAF), 54.5, b g 5, Mogok (USA) – Meadow Rhumba (SAF) by Shoe
Danzig (USA)
Margins: nose, 1½, ½
Also ran: Silver Flyer (SAF) 58.0, Silent Partner (SAF) 52.5, The
Mouseketeer (SAF) 54.5, Potala Palace (SAF) 55.5, Glorious Jet (SAF) 53.0,
Golden Crest (SAF) 57.5, Astro News (SAF) 54.5, Roman Wall (SAF) 52.5,
Pierre Jourdan (SAF) 59.5, Smanjemanje (SAF) 59.5, Link Man (SAF) 60.5,
Wittenberg (SAF) 54.5, Snowdon (SAF) 59
