NEWS
Mafaaz takes Derby Challenge
Posted: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 4:04 PM
MAFAAZ
Racing Post photo
by Jeff Lowe
After sweeping two Breeders’ Cup races last fall, English trainer John Gosden now has a shot at United States racing’s signature event with Mafaaz, who delivered in the $112,304 Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes on Wednesday at Kempton Park.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Medicean colt held off Spring of Fame by a neck to earn the only automatic berth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Churchill Downs sponsored the Derby Challenge on the Kempton synthetic Polytrack surface for the first time this year as part of an effort to boost European interest in the Kentucky Derby. The rest of the Derby field will be determined by graded stakes earnings. Sheikh Hamdan also stands to receive a $100,000 bonus if Mafaaz runs in the Kentucky Derby.
Mafaaz was among the early nominees to the United States Triple Crown. Racing with blinkers for the first time, he tracked just behind pacesetter Sohcahtoa under jockey Richard Hills and drove to the front inside the final furlong in the clockwise race. He held off Spring of Fame at the wire and completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:55.17.
"Obviously, we'll have to discuss it, but Sheikh Hamdan is a great supporter of American racing and he now has the opportunity to go to Kentucky,” said Gosden, who finished 12th in the 1986 Kentucky Derby with Zabaleta. “He's a nice, solid horse who has been working well and the blinkers have helped. He's always lacked a bit of focus. He's a tough cookie and is arrogant. He's not a pussycat and has got the right attitude.”
Mafaaz scored at Kempton in his debut on September 10 and then finished fifth to stablemate Donativum (GB) in the Tatersalls Timeform Millions on October 4 at Newmarket in his only other start. Donativum went on to win the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and Gosden’s other Breeders’ Cup starter, Raven’s Pass, prevailed in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Gosden confirmed that he would consider sending Mafaaz to Keeneland Race Course for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) on April 11.
The combined handle in American win, place, and exacta pools was $40,074.
Jeff Lowe is a THOROUGHBRED TIMES staff writer
