UNBEATEN in his first five starts as a two and three year-old for Gai Waterhouse
,
Mutawaajid was clearly among the best of his generation, and this quality sprinter should make a big impact with breeders when he begins his first season at Emirates Park, Murrurundi later this year. Bred and raced by His Excellency Hussain Nasser Abdullah Lootah, this exciting son of Redoute’s Choice and the Vain mare Elated Lady was also given his chance to shine in England and was certainly not disgraced by finishing fourth in two major sprints there, the southern hemisphere-bred three year-old giving weight and age to his more seasoned rivals in four starts for Mick Channon.
Emirates Park's Mutawaajid
However first things first, and we find Mutawaajid making his debut in a 1200m Maiden at Wyong on April 20, 2006. Always in control, he won by 3.75 lengths from Invault in 1:10.39. Taken to Canterbury on May 1, Mutawaajid again made it a one-act affair in a class three event for juvenile colts and geldings over 1200m, beating Palisade by 3.75 lengths and with third-placed Classic Reward 8.1 lengths from the winner, who ran 1:11.07 and led all the way.
Given a break by his astute trainer, Mutawaajid resumed as a three year-old on January 1, 2007 in the Tattersalls Club Vili’s Handicap, running the 1100m in 1:03.09 as hot favourite and beating runner-up Loulou by three-quarters of a length after sitting in second posse and pouncing in the straight. Next start provided his first big test against the best sprinting three year-olds in training in the Royal Sovereign Stakes-Gr.2 (1200m) at Randwick on February 10. Third in running, Mutawaajid overpowered the opposition to beat subsequent Gr.1 winner Sniper’s Bullet by a length and with Mearas third, Diego Garcia fourth and Court Command fifth. Time on the good surface was a smart 1:09.58.
Taken to Rosehill for the Hobartville Stakes-Gr.2 on February 24, the colt was tried at 1400m for the first time and led all the way to beat Gold Edition (a subsequent multiple Gr.1 winner of $3.18m), Upper Echelon and Teranaba in 1:23.33. Few horses can lead all the way over the tough mile at Headquarters - especially at their first attempt at the distance - but Mutawaajid made a brave effort at his next start in the Randwick Guineas-Gr.1 and finished a dead-heat for fourth with Just Dancing, 2.6 lengths behind the favourite Mentality and with Teranaba and Sniper’s Bullet filling the placings in a time of 1:35.79.
His strong Australian form prompted Nasser Lootah to give the exciting colt his chance against Europe’s best sprinters and he was sent to the stable of English trainer Mick Channon, having his first outing in the July Cup-Gr.1 (6f) at Newmarket on July 13, 2007, when ninth of 18 to Sakhee’s Secret, beaten just 4.5 lengths (and just ahead of Aussie visitor Bentley Biscuit). Racing Post noted, “The massive ex-Australian Mutawaajid made an encouraging British debut, and one that was all the better when one remembers he has to race as a four year-old here, but he was foaled to southern hemisphere time and his birthday is still more than three months away. We will hear more of him.”
Mutawaajid lost all chance at his next start in the Goodwood Lennox Stakes-Gr.2 (7f) on July 31as he fought for his head behind leader Dunelight and finished unplaced behind Tariq. Back in Gr.1 company and again over 6f next start in the Haydock Sprint Cup on September 8, Mutawaajid ran a cracker of a race to be fourth behind Red Clubs, Balthazaar’s Gift and Sakhee’s Secret in 1:13.11, beaten 2.5 lengths. Again Racing Post had praise for the son of Redoute’s Choice, “Mutawaajid also deserves credit as he did best of those who showed prominent from the off and held every chance over 1f out. This ex-Australian, who had been too keen over 7f on his previous start, retains plenty of ability and is well worth bearing in mind. He is a very big horse and he has clearly taken time to acclimatise, but he looks to have found his feet now.”
Dropped back in distance again to the Dubai International Airport World Trophy-Gr.3 (5f 33yrd in 1:0.18) at Newbury on September 22, Mutawaajid was well back early but came home well for a close fourth behind Rowe Park, Enticing and Judd Street (who all had between a five and nine pound weight advantage). Racing Post’s race comment said, “Mutawaajid faced a stiff task under the penalty for his Gr.2 wins in Australia, especially when one considers he was foaled to southern hemisphere time so is only around six months older than the three year-olds who ran here. He found 5f on the sharp side but ran on under pressure for a respectable fourth, just ahead of last month’s Nunthorpe second Desert Lord, who showed good speed to lead.”
Back in Australia Mutawaajid had two unplaced runs in March and April 2008 and was retired with a record of five wins and three fourths (two at Gr.1 level) in 12 starts for earnings of $352,731.
Although he did not win in England, Mutawaajid showed he was competitive against Europe’s best sprinters and his strong Australian form, where he defeated subsequent Gr.1 winners, showed he clearly had the potential to win a Gr.1 sprint. He represents great value in his first season, especially given the encouraging start made by Redoute’s Choice sons at stud this season, including Listed winner and Gr.2 placed Not a Single Doubt (five winners to early April) and Stromberg Carlson (three winners), while the first runners by Legion and Masterofceremonies are both winners.
Mutawaajid has a superb pedigree too, being a son of multiple Gr.1 winner and champion sire Redoute’s Choice, himself a son of champion sire Danehill (USA) and the Canny Lad mare Shantha’s Choice, a direct descendant of fabulous broodmare Best in Show. Australia’s most expensive sire (standing at Arrowfield for $330,000 in 2008), it’s hard to believe he only retired to stud in 2000 with runners of the calibre of Golden Slipper winners Miss Finland and Stratum, Oakleigh Plate winner Snitzel and the likes of Samantha Miss, Fashions Afield, Undoubtedly, God’s Own, Nadeem, Empire’s Choice, Anamato, Lotteria and Redoute’s Dancer, he’s proving ‘Mr Versatility’ as a sire with star juveniles, sprinters, milers and classic-winning three year-olds among more than 315 winners of $46.1m and a winners-to-runners ration in excess of 74%. He has 52 stakes winners (12% to starters), 14 of them at Gr.1 level and this season alone his runners have earned in excess of $7.5m (to April 3) from 97 winners (14SW) as he leads the sires’ table.
His career is mirroring that of his sire Danehill (Danzig-Razyana by His Majesty), who so dominates southern bloodlines these days but Redoute’s Choice also has a welcome dose of Star Kingdom as well thanks to Golden Slipper winner Canny Lad (Bletchingly-Jesmond Lass by Lunchtime (GB)), a wonderful sire and broodmare sire for Woodlands and now for Darley.
Redoute’s Choice is a grandson of Dancing Show (Nijinsky-Show Lady by Sir Ivor), dam of the Gr.1 winners Umatilla (Miswaki) and Hurricane Sky (Star Watch) and grandam of Gr.1 winner Al Maher (Danehill), who has made such a promising start for Emirates this season. Dancing Show is a grandaughter of 1982 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Best in Show (Traffic Judge). This is also the family of Spinning World (USA), Try My Best and El Gran Senor and as duplicating Best in Show is working successfully all over the globe, it could be worth trying with Mutawaajid.
It’s also worth noting that Redoute’s Choice has worked well with Woodman (Mr. Prospector), Sir Tristram (doubling Sir Ivor), Snippets (doubling Dewhurst winner Lunchtime), Don’t Say Halo (like Woodman a member of the La Troienne clan) and Whiskey Road (by Nijinsky and from the same family as His Majesty), but these are just some of many successful crosses. Nijinsky’s close relation Storm Bird features in the pedigree of Snitzel and it could also be worthwhile using The Minstrel, a three-quarter brother to Nijinsky, maybe via his grandson Naturalism, whose dam is by Zephyr Bay.
Mutawaajid’s dam Elated Lady is a daughter of Golden Slipper winner Vain (Wilkes (FR)-Elated by Orgoglio (GB)) and the imported Lady Upstage (GB), a daughter of the good stayer High Line and Tenebel by Djebel. Mutawaajid’s sixth dam Helene is a sister to the unbeaten French champion Ajax (Flying Fox-Amie by Clamart) - sire of Teddy - and traces to Crucifix winner of the English Oaks, 1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas, this is family 2i.
As befitting a daughter of Vain, Elated Lady showed plenty of speed on the track, winning in Sydney from 1000m-1200m and producing eight winners from 11 foals, including other stakes winners in Adeewin (whose wins included the Silver Shadow Stakes-Gr.2, MVRC Champagne Stakes-Gr.2, Illawarra Classic-Gr.3 and who was third in the AJC Sires’ Produce-Gr.1), Fatoon (Reisling Slipper Trial-Gr.2, Sapphire Stakes-Gr.3) and Listed winner Jivago (18 wins), all by the Danzig horse Snaadee (USA). Her dam Lady Upstage was bred in England but did her racing in Australia, winning three races at 2000m-2400m including the Listed Christmas Cup and placing in the Summer Cup-Gr.3.
She has been a wonderful broodmare with eight of her nine named foals winning and including the champion Shaftesbury Avenue (Salieri (USA)), whose 13 wins (1000m-2000m) included the Newmarket Handicap, Cantala Stakes, All-Aged Stakes, George Main Stakes, Lightning Stakes and Caulfield Stakes, all Gr.1, for earnings of $2.2m. She also produced the Listed winner and stakes producer Stage Shy (Shy Rambler (USA)) and the city winner Hillary’s Pride, dam of Newcastle Cup-Gr.3 winner Agincourt Express.
Mutawaajid’s third dam Tebebel was unplaced in three starts in Britain but had four winners from six foals including the very good performer and sire Khalekan (GB) (Alycidon), who won the Goodwood Gordon Stakes-Gr.3 in England (where he was also runner-up in the Dewhurst Stakes-Gr.1 at two as well as second in the Irish St Leger-Gr.1 and third in the Doncaster Observer Gold Cup-Gr.1) before coming to Australia where the handsome chestnut won the Listed H.E. Tancred Cup and did sterling service as a sire for former jockey Des Lake at his Kemps Creek property, despite suffering from limited patronage. His daughters also proved very good broodmares, leaving 170 winners including Gr.1 winner Ochiltree (Twig Moss).
Tenebel’s stakes-placed daughter Widden (GB) (Nimbus) also made it out to our shores, where her descendants include stakes winner Gypsy Circle (Gypsy Kingdom), Oakleigh Plate-Gr.1 runner-up Isn’t She Gorgeous (Biscay) and smart Tasmanian performer Greenmount Belle (Magic Albert). Mutawaajid’s fifth dam Tenedos is by Thor and from the Prix des Reves d’Or winner Experience by Prince Palatine and from Helene. Helene also produced the Prix Robert Papin winner Marron (Verwood) and the French 1000 Guineas and Prix Morny winner Porte Maillot (Gardefeu).
Although Mutawaajid is a very big horse (one commentator suggesting he was almost 18 hands), he has athleticism and balance and will clearly put substance into mares who perhaps lack a bit in height and bone. His speed and pedigree will also make him attractive to broodmare owners and he should suit a variety of bloodlines and I think he will nick well with mares who are strongly influenced by Teddy, Djebel, Fair Trial or Hyperion. More modern influences including Halo, Mr. Prospector, Riverman, Sir Ivor and Northern Dancer (Storm Cat, Last Tycoon) should work well and duplicating mares such as Best in Show or Flower Bowl could also prove beneficial.
Related posts:
- MutawaajidSTALLIONS continue our series on horses retiring to stud this...
- Emirates Park Slash Fees In further recognition of the difficult season ahead for...
- Emirates Offer Breeders One For Free With the owners of Australia’s broodmare population looking for their...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
