STALLIONS continue our series on horses retiring to stud this spring and amongst them is Mutawaajid.

Unbeaten in his first five starts as a two and three year-old for his owners under the care of Gai Waterhouse.   He was a quality sprinter and begins his first season at Emirates Park Murrurundi, this spring.
   Bred and raced by His Excellency Hussain Nasser Abdullah Lootah, this son of Redoute’s Choice and the Vain mare Elated Lady was 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.

Mutawaajid made his debut in a 1200m Maiden at Wyong on April 20, 2006. Always in control, he won by 3-3/4 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 3-3/4 lengths.  Given a break, Mutawaajid resumed in his classic year on New Years’ day,  2007 in the Tattersalls Club Vili’s Hcp, running the 1100m in 1:03.09 as hot favourite.  His next start provided his first big test against the best sprinting three year-olds in training in the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. Third in running, Mutawaajid overpowered the opposition to beat subsequent Gr.1 winner Sniper’s Bullet by a length.
    He was then taken to Rosehill for the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes, 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), in 1:23.33.
   Few horses can lead all the way over the tough mile at Randwick - especially at their first attempt at the distance - but Mutawaajid made a brave effort at his next start in the Group I Randwick Guineas and finished fourth just a couple of lengths behind the high-class Mentality.
   His strong Australian form prompted Nasser Lootah to give the 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 Group I July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket, he finished ninth of 18 to Sakhee’s Secret, beaten just 4-1/2 lengths. The respected 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 Group 2 Lennox Stakes (1400m) as he pulled hard in running. Back to Group 1 company over 1200m at Haydock in the Sprint Cup, Mutawaajid ran a cracker of a race to be fourth behind Red Clubs.
   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 to the Group 3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy (1000m) at Newbury, Mutawaajid was well back early but came home well for a close fourth.
Returning to Australia, Mutawaajid had another two unplaced runs 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.
   Mutawaajid has a superb pedigree too, being a son of Redoute’s Choice a grandson of Dancing Show (Nijinsky-Show Lady by Sir Ivor), dam of the Group 1 winners Umatilla (Miswaki) and Hurricane Sky (Star Watch) and grandam of Group 1 winner Al Maher (Danehill), who has made such a promising start for Emirates this season.
   Mutawaajid’s dam Elated Lady is a daughter of Golden Slipper winner Vain and the imported Lady Upstage, a daughter of the good stayer High Line.
   Elated Lady showed plenty of speed on the track, winning in Sydney from 1000m-1200m and producing 11 foals with eight of them raced and all are winners, including Adeewin  whose wins included the G2 AJC Silver Shadow Stakes, G2 MVRC Champagne Stakes and G3 Illawarra Classic;  Fatoon winner of the G2 STC Reisling Slipper Trial and the 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 AJC Christmas Cup.
   Lady Upstage has been a wonderful broodmare with eight of her nine named foals winning and including the champion Shaftesbury Avenue (Salieri),  the Listed winner and stakes producer Stage Shy (Shy Rambler) and the city three-time winner Hillary’s Pride, dam of G3 Newcastle Cup winner Agincourt Express (by Agincourt).
Emirates Park have set Mutawaajid’s debut fee this spring at $8,800 (inc gst).

Tags: Emirates Park
Permalink| Aug 31, 2009

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