Muhaarar much too good in QIPCO British Champions Sprint

Muhaarar runs out a ready winner of the British Champions Sprint. Image courtesy of Racingfotos.com

Run as a Group 1 for the first time, a star-studded field went to post in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes, but Muhaarar put up a dominant display, beating Twilight Son by two lengths with Danzeno a further length and a half back in third.

Sent off as the 5/2 favourite having already won the Commonwealth Cup, July Cup and Prix Maurice de Gheest this season, Muhaarar was always going strongly in the hands of Paul Hanagan and responded powerfully when his rider pressed the button on the approach to the final furlong. Muhaarar had matters firmly under control from some way out and, in truth, proved a notch above his rivals, not hard pressed to register a fourth Group 1 win in succession.

In taking the scalp of the hitherto unbeaten Twilight Son by two lengths, Muhaarar almost certainly put up the best performance of his career and his Timeform rating could now push the 130 boundary, placing him alongside some of the best sprinters in recent years.

Twilight Son, Danzeno and the fourth-placed The Tin Man – a half-brother to 2011 Champion Deacon Blues – all enhanced their reputations in defeat, simply unlucky to bump into a sprinter of Muhaarar’s class. 

Winning rider Paul Hanagan – who was also aboard Muhaarar in the July Cup and Prix Maurice de Gheest – was understandably elated and commented “Muharaar has such a fantastic temperament. He dragged me to the front – it was never in doubt”.

Charles Hills also paid tribute to Muhaarar’s fantastic temperament and said: “He’s got the will to win and the most beautiful temperament. He’s been very straightforward to train.”

It had been mooted that Muhaarar would take his chance in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but owner Sheikh Hamdan has confirmed that he will instead be retired. Muhaarar certainly bows out on a high and must be regarded as one of the best British-trained sprinters we’ve seen since Dayjur.