Jim Crowley: It makes sense to run Mutasaabeq here
Jockey and Coral ambassador Jim Crowley discusses the chances of his three rides at Sandown on Friday.
It’s such an exciting time of the year, as the better horses start to reappear, and we run some nice ones here today, starting with Anmaat in the Gordon Richards, a race we won 12 months ago with Mostahdaf.
This fellow has done nothing but improve over the last two seasons and has progressed through the ranks from handicaps to winning a Group 2 at Longchamp on Arc weekend last year.
As a result of that win, we have a five pound penalty here, so giving that weight to a former Derby winner in Adayar won’t be easy.
He’s never been a flashy work horse at home, so he’d be hard to charge on that, but we know he’s a high-class horse who seems in good form, and he’s ready to run.
We could have gone to France for the Group 1 Prix Ganay, but felt that was asking a lot first time up, and whatever he does here, he’s sure to come on for the run, and we should hopefully have bigger days ahead.
Mutasaabeq is another who has to carry a penalty for his last win, in his case three pounds for his Joel Stakes win at Newmarket last back end.
Mutasaabeq, wearing blinkers for the first time, bounces back to form in the Group Two @ABE_Dubai Joel Stakes @NewmarketRace for the @cbhills team under @JimCrowley1978 🏆@ShadwellStud | @hissa_hamdan pic.twitter.com/Gok6GULDjY
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 23, 2022
He could have gone straight to Newbury for the Lockinge, but he likes cut in the ground, and ran well here last year, finishing second, and Charlie Hills has his string in great form, so it made sense to prep him here.
As with Anmaat, the penalty won’t make life easy, but he’s another who we really like, and he should run a big race, while it’s also a good stepping stone to important targets to come.
John and Thady Gosden won this fillies’ novice stakes with Emily Upjohn last year, and like her, Tarjamah holds an Oaks entry, which shows the regard we have for her.
She’s a beautiful homebred daughter of Dubawi, who won on her debut at Wolverhampton in December, and I know she’s pleasing John.
The only doubt is the ground, I’m not sure she’d appreciate deep ground, so I’m sure we’ll have a look before confirming her participation.
She’s a filly with a future, and while I think she’d cope with good to soft, heavy might be too much for her. If we don’t run here, I’m sure we’d look at an Oaks trial, to see where we are with her.
Jim
