Waady also set to represent Sheikh Hamdan in showdown sprint at York
MUTHMIR, currently the 6/1 second favourite for the Group 1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, is on target to take his chance in the £310,000 highlight of day three, Friday, August 21, of York’s Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival.
The William Haggas-trained five-year-old goes into the race on the back of an impressive victory over Take Cover in the Group 2 King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
He has also won at Group 2 level in France this season and finished a close-up third in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
A Group 1 victory is the main aim for this son of Invincible Spirit and connections have high hopes for him ahead of his scheduled next assignment.
Richard Hills, assistant racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: “Muthmir has come out of his win at Goodwood very well and York is the target.
“Fast ground over five furlongs are his ideal conditions and we feel that the Nunthorpe has always been his race. He has strong form and looks to have a good chance.”
Sheikh Hamdan is also set to be represented by exciting three-year-old sprinter Waady. Trained by John Gosden, the son of Approve has won four of his five starts this season and has progressed through handicaps into Group company.
He took the Listed Scurry Stakes at Sandown in June before following up that success with a stylish victory over the same course and distance in the Group 3 Coral Charge.
Hills added: “We are also looking forward to running Waady in the Nunthorpe. He is a progressive young sprinter who has won handicaps before winning a Listed and a Group 3 race. We have always thought plenty of him and he deserves to take his chance at York.
“Four of his five career wins have come at Sandown over five furlongs. We feel that he has lots of speed and that York will suit him.”
The Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes is seen by many as British racing’s definitive speed test for a top-class thoroughbred. York’s five furlong course regularly sees times sub 59 seconds and the prize has been taken by some of the fastest horses ever to grace British turf.
A quarter of a century ago Sheikh Hamdan’s Dayjur ran out one of the most impressive winners in living memory. The son of Danzing, with jockey Willie Carson, on board, ran out a four-length winner and smashed the course record in the process.
That record of 56.16 seconds still stands today. The likes of Oasis Dream, Kyllachy and Mozart have landed the spoils in recent years and this year’s renewal looks set to have pulses racing yet again.
Acapulco, a sensational winner of the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot will bid to become the first two-year-old filly to win since Lyric Fantasy in 1992, while Sole Power will try and emulate Tag End (1928-30 inclusive) and Sharpo (1980-82) by winning three Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.
The four-day Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival takes place from Wednesday, August 19-22, inclusive.