Ascot preview: British Champions Sprint (13.20)

David Metcalf | October 16, 2015

Muhaarar can confirm his position at the top of the sprinting tree by landing the Group 1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot (13.20).

The Charlie Hills trained colt has won six of his 10 starts and burst onto the sprinting scene when putting in a stunning performance to land the inaugural running of the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

After travelling strongly in midfield in a race run at a searing gallop, Muhaarar made good headway two from from before talking up the running at the furlong marker and quickening clear to beat some top class rivals by 3 1/2 lengths.

It was an effort which suggested the three-year-old was right of the top drawer, and that view was confirmed when Muhaarar followed-up with a nose success over his elders in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket.

The son of Oasis Dream then became the first British-trained horse in 25 years to complete a hat-trick of Group 1 sprints with a gutsy 1/2 length success over the very smart Esoterique in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.

The last horse to complete such a feat was the mighty Dayjur who, like Muhaarar, was owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum.

It’s an achievement which marks Muhaarar out as something special, and an official rating of 121 gives him 4lb and upwards in hand on his rivals.