Sheikh Hamdan’s MAFAAZ (Medicean) tracked pacesetter Sohcahtoa (Val Royal
[Fr]) to the stretch drive and got up late to capture the inaugural running
Wednesday’s Kentucky Derby Challenge S. at England’s Kempton Park Racecourse.
The John Gosden-trained colt had to withstand a desperate late rally from
runner-up Spring of Fame (Grand Slam), but he held on by a neck to secure a
guaranteed berth in the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Staged over nine furlongs on the right-handed Polytrack course, the Kempton
Challenge attracted a full field of 14, but Sohcahtoa was able to get away with
a moderate pace on the early lead. The front runner came under serious pressure
approaching the top of the stretch, but he had more in reserve and momentarily
spurted clear from his rivals after straightening into the lane. Jockey Richard
Hills had Mafaaz in second turning for home and never panicked, wearing down
Sohcahtoa in deep stretch. Spring of Fame, who didn’t enjoy a clean trip in the
back of the bulky field, swung out for the stretch drive and was flying late,
but he ran out of track and just missed on the wire.
Mafaaz, who was making his third lifetime start on Wednesday, won his debut
in a seven-furlong maiden in September and finished a credible fifth, beaten
only three lengths, to future Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf star Donativum (GB) (Cadeaux
Genereux) in his subsequent outing, the October 4 Tattersalls Timeform Million
on turf. The runner-up that afternoon, Crowded House (Rainbow Quest), came back
to romp in the prestigious Racing Post Trophy S. (Eng-G1).
“He’s run a solid race and he’s got good form through Donativum and Crowded
House,” Gosden said following the Kempton Challenge. “I like the way he finished
it out. They were coming at him late, but he’s done his job the hard way.”
Gosden has the option of training Mafaaz up to the Derby, but he would prefer
to get a start over an American track before heading to Churchill Downs.
“I would probably think of going to the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland
first,” said Gosden, who saddled Zabaleta to a 12th-place finish in the 1986
Kentucky Derby. “We’ve got to get into that race, you know, but he is nominated
to it. I’d be in favor of doing that and then vanning down the road. If we don’t
get into that race, we go straight to Churchill.”
There has not been an international competitor in the Kentucky Derby since
2002, and Gosden is a big fan of the Kempton Challenge.
“That was great,” Gosden said. “It was a bold initiative by Churchill Downs.”
Mafaaz, who will receive a $100,000 bonus if he competes in the Run for the
Roses, added blinkers on Wednesday, and Gosden was asked about the equipment
change.
“He’s always lacked a little focus,” Gosden explained. “He’s a bit of a
playboy. I’m a great believer in blinkers for that type of horse. There’s a
prejudice about blinkers in this country (England), which is wrong. In America,
I can tell you horses like Northern Dancer and Secretariat raced in blinkers.
They don’t have a prejudice against it there.”
Gosden also said that Richard Hills will retain the mount in America.