TIME HONOURED SPRINT NEXT STOP FOR MUTAWAAJID

SEPTEMBER, 2007: Mutawaajid is set to have the next outing of his 2007 European campaign when taking on the silk department in this coming weekend’s Group One Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park.

The Emirates Park bred and raced son of Redoute’s Choice is among 25 horses left in the feature six-furlong contest at the five-day stage with a star-studded final field now almost certain to face the starter.

Set to oppose Mutawaajid in one of England’s premier Group One events of each and every season are the winners of this year’s Royal Ascot Golden Jubilee Stakes (G1), Newmarket July Cup (G1) and Deauville Maurice de Gheest (G1) in the form of Solder‘s Tale, Sakhee’s Secret and Marchand D’or respectively.

Despite the strength of his opposition, trainer Mick Channon is very upbeat about Mutawwajid’s chances in what will prove to be the third outing of his campaign prepared out the famous West Ilsley establishment.

“Mick is delighted with him,” revealed stable spokesperson Gill Hedley. “He looks a million times better in his coat and Mick feels he has been able to give him a proper preparation for this one.

Headley added: “We are all looking forward to Saturday — the horse is in great form, has had his prep races and we are really hopeful of a big run.”

An event first run in 1966, the Betfred Sprint Cup has been won by some of the luminaries of world thoroughbred racing and breeding including the great racemare Habibti (1983) and the subsequently celebrated stallions Green Desert (1986), Polar Falcon (1991) and current boom sire Invincible Spirit (2002), Of course, none have made a greater contribution to the breed than the 1989 winner of the race, namely the incomparable Danehill (USA).

This year’s renewal of the Betfred Sprint Cup is scheduled to be run at 3.10pm local UK time and likely to be telecast in Australia at 12.10am Sunday morning. Darryll Holland has been booked for the ride on Mutawaajid.