Mawj edges out Tahiyra to win QIPCO 1000 Guineas

Saeed bin Suroor and Oisin Murphy celebrated Classic success together for the first time as Mawj outpointed Tahiyra in an epic duel to win the QIPCO 1000 Guineas.

Last year’s Duchess of Cambridge Stakes winner Mawj had enjoyed two prep wins out in Dubai through the winter and arrived at the Rowley Mile ready to run the race of her life.

Placed prominently by Murphy, a battle developed up the centre of the track with the Dermot Weld-trained Tahiyra; rider Chris Hayes laying down their challenge as the pair entered the dip.

The ensuing battle proved gripping viewing and with half a furlong to run it was still impossible to separate the duo.

Mawj eventually gained the upper hand in the testing conditions and toughed out a gutsy victory by half a length.

The win was Oisin Murphy’s second Classic success, while it also represented a first domestic Group 1 win in nearly 10 years for trainer Saeed Bin Suroor.

Speaking to the Racing Post, Murphy commented: “It is lovely to see a Classic like that when they go clear and show their class. I was watching Mawj’s replays again this morning and was thinking did she really win by eight and a half lengths last time in Meydan, and why did she win so easily? She is clearly just exceptional. Tahiyra is also top class and it was miles back to the rest of the field.”