Maraahel shines in Hardwicke thriller
Maraahel gained just reward for some solid efforts in top company with a thrilling victory in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Sir Michael Stoute’s battle-hardened campaigner was tasting success at Group Two level for the first time with his head verdict over stable companion Mountain High in the contest.
The latter looked set to score when going on over a furlong out but Richard Hills swooped late on Maraahel to nail him close home.
Enforcer kept on for third a further length and a half away.
The winner could now go in search of that elusive first Group One win.
“He has threatened for a while and he deserved a big day,” Stoute said after greeting his 55th winner at the Royal meeting.
“He put up some great performances last year in the International at York – I think he was beaten a head and a neck – and then he ran well in the Champion Stakes and then he ran a very good race in Hong Kong as well.
“Richard gave him a great ride. This horse has a short run and Richard was very brave and rode a lovely race on him.
“I don’t know where there is one but I think there is a Group one in him.”
Hills added: “He’s been thrown in some Group Ones and he hasn’t come up to the mark.
“He always gives me a big effort and today he just came right with the one run and he was just holding on that last bit.
“It was a good pace and I was able to travel and we put the visor back on him. My wife Jaci rides him at home and she said he was the best he’s ever been.
“He deserved to win a race like this – he’s come close – and this was a big effort.
“I hope there is a Group One in him. Group Ones are very hard to win and you need a lot of luck but he’d never disgrace himself.”
Stoute was delighted with the runner-up’s performance but was slightly disappointed with his other contender Hard Top’s run back in fifth.
“That’s Mountain High’s best performance by far and he’s going the right way,” he continued.
“Hard Top is usually pretty relaxed but I wanted to bounce him out today and have him up there.
“But he just ran down to Swinley Bottom doing too much and you can’t do that in a Group race.
“I would think that’s a one-off – he’s now in really in good shape.”
Former handicapper Enforcer ran another good race following his third to Shirocco and Ouija Board in the Coronation Cup earlier this month.
Trainer Willie Muir said: “He was unfortunate as the pace was steady and with being drawn one he got shuffled back – if he had been drawn on the other side he would have been closer.
“I am delighted and he has got one of these races in him.
“If this was a handicap he might have won but he is taking on Group One horses on level weights.
“He has run fantastic and I did think he might get there, but the straight is too short to come from that far back.
“We will see how he comes out of this but he is possible for the Princess of Wales’s at the July meeting or he could go to Canada.”
