The Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge last Saturday proved yet another Gr1 triumph for the Shadwell racing empire when homebred Al Muthana announced his arrival in the upper echelons with a smart victory in the familiar blue and white silks of the Late Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum.
Trained by Mike de Kock, the four-year-old won the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes in his penultimate start, only to fluff his lines with a below par effort in the Gr1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut next time out.
No looking back! Richard Fourie is all smiles after Al Muthana won the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge on Saturday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
However, De Kock was quick to offer an explanation for that disappointing effort: “You can draw a line through his Horse Chestnut run, as he was very sick a week after the race.”
He also confirmed that the Australian-bred will next target the ultimate prize, the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July – it has since been confirmed that the Australia-based Callan Murray will ride Al Muthana in the Hollywoodbets Durban July
Hungry to break an 11-year drought since Igugu gave him a fourth win in the country’s premier race, the maestro trainer looks set to field a formidable quartet if Al Muthana joins classic winners Safe Passage, Aragosta and the admirable filly Sparkling Water in the July line-up.
Mike de Kock (credit: hamishNIVENPhotography)
De Kock, who has trained such Shadwell standouts as Soft Falling Rain, Hawwaam, Soqrat, Rafeef, Mustaqeem and Malmoos, also felt the fallout of Sheikh Hamdan’s passing last year, to the extent that Al Muthana is the sole Shadwell-owned horse left in his stable following the subsequent rationalisation of its global interests.
He nevertheless remains optimistic:”I think once they regroup and build it up again, I’m sure it will happen again. They have been super patrons to have, that’s for sure.”
Shadwell’s success stretches beyond South African racetracks, for over the years, it has been a staunch supporter of the local breeding industry.
Late Sheikh Hamdan – a passion for racing and breeding (Pic – TSA News)
Stallions to have stood under its banner include Kahal and Muhtafal, both of which made their mark whilst standing at Summerhill Stud. The former especially, carved out a fine reputation for himself, not just as KwaZulu-Natal’s perennially leading sire, but also as a permanent fixture amongst the country’s elite, finishing as high as third on the General Sires List in 2011.
Champion Soft Falling Rain is of a more recent vintage. Sadly, he died all too early at age nine, leaving just three full crops – he covered just nine mares in his final season, the foals of which are now juveniles.
Those initial crops have to date yielded a respectable 17 stakes performers, amongst which the Graded stakes winners Waterberry Lane, Montreal Mist, Heaven’s Girl and World Radar.
Rafeef, Hawwaam, Soqrat and Malmoos are the latest Shadwell colour bearers to feature amongst the local sire ranks.
Ridgemont Highlands-based Rafeef (Pic – JC Photos)
That Ridgemont Highlands-based Rafeef has made quite a splash with his first two crops cannot be disputed.
Sire of first-crop Gr1 winners Master Archie and Aragosta, he bolstered his standing as the country’s leading young sire when second-crop son Thunderstruck won the Gr1 Gold Medallion, while only a neck deprived Glittering Girl from victory in the Gr1 Allan Robertson.
Hopes are high for the trio of Soqrat, Hawwaam and Malmoos, all of which retired to the breeding shed with impeccable credentials.
Sandown kingpin Soqrat (Pic- Romi Bettison)
James Armitage, who welcomed Soqrat to his Sandown Stud in 2020, is high on the triple Gr1 winner’s first foals and remarked: “Soqrat’s foals are magnificent. He was such a great horse on the track, if they inherit just a third of his ability, he will be a success.”
As he also boards a number of Shadwell mares, James too, is optimistic: “Considering they stand four stallions in South Africa, I am hopeful that Shadwell will continue their support of the South African industry.”
Champion Hawwaam retired to Wilgerbosdrift in 2021 and according to the stud’s owner Mary Slack, the son of Silvano made a seamless transition from racehorse to stallion.
“He has taken to his new role as a stallion like he was born to it,” she remarked.
Needless to say, Wilgerbosdrift has supported the young stallion with a number of choice mares, amongst which Espumante, the dam of Sparkling Water, whilst sister stud Mauritzfontein sent Gay Fortuna, the dam of Silvano’s champion son Marinaresco.
Triple Crown winner Malmoos has joined the stallion roster at Ridgemont Highlands and will cover his first mares this coming spring.
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