Mubtaker has March option
Mubtaker could have his first foray into Listed company for over two years in the Windflower March Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday.
Marcus Tregoning plans to drop the talented eight-year-old in class but will not commit him to this weekend’s one-mile-six-furlong race until assessing the ground nearer the time.
“It is a possibility that he will run, but I will just monitor the ground and see how much rain we get as I believe the forecast is not good,” said Tregoning.
“The race looks to be within his grasp but it is not essential that he runs there as the September Stakes is another possibility, but he will definitely run in a similar race and we will build it up from there.”
Mubtaker put up a career-best performance when chasing home Dalakhani in the 2003 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and just failed to land his fourth consecutive Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury earlier this month.
“I’ve been delighted with him since Newbury and he is in great form,” added the Lambourn handler. “
He put up such a great effort it was disappointing he didn’t win, but that is racing.”
Mubtaker is one of 13 entered for the March Stakes with last year’s winner Orange Touch a possible runner, along with Godolphin’s Centaurus, who bolted up at Newmarket earlier this month.
Foreign Affairs was 15 lengths adrift that day and may reoppose while John Dunlop has entered one of his St Leger hopeful’s Unfurled, who last ran at the Sussex track when runner-up in the Gordon Stakes.
