Mostahdaf puts up monster performance in Prince of Wales

Mostahdaf, making his British seasonal debut, caused a shock to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes under Jim Crowley. It was a first winner of the week for trainers John and Thady Gosden.

On paper the six-runner race appeared a very tight contest, but the 10/1 son of Frankel proved the market wrong by bursting clear of his higher-rated rivals in breathtaking style.

Luxembourg made the running initially and set what appeared quite a sedate pace, with principal rivals Adayar, My Prospero and Bay Bridge in behind; Mostahdaf bringing up the rear.

Ryan Moore kicked clear with three furlongs to run, and while most of his rivals struggled to stem the gap Jim Crowley breezed into the contest down the outside on Mostahdaf, taking the lead with a furlong and a half to run.

The son of Frankel kept on powerfully to the line, eventually extending his advantage to four lengths over Aidan O’Brien’s Luxembourg.

Speaking to ITV post-race jockey Jim Crowley commented “John and Thady have done an amazing job with him. He bolted in Saudi, he didn’t quite stay against Equinox when he was probably the only one who served it up to him and went after him and then he got tired.

“They (John and Thady) brought him back, he’s fresh and they’ve trained him unbelievably. He’s bouncing coming into the race today. It’s great for Sheikha Hissa who’s here with her family.”