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Mutasaabeq gained a second Group success in the rescheduled Group 2 bet365 Mile at Newmarket on Friday.
Mutasaabeq gained a second Group success in the rescheduled Group 2 bet365 Mile at Newmarket on Friday.
The Charlie Hills-trained five-year-old had run well to win the Group 2 Joel Stakes over course and distance in September with first-time blinkers applied and looked an even better horse on his return to action.
Mutasaabeq disputed the pace throughout with Imperial Fighter, who split away from the group towards the stands side rail. With two furlongs to go, jockey Jim Crowley began to increase the pace on Mutasaabeq, leaving the rest of the field struggling to find a response. He remained in control to the line to win by three lengths ahead of the Charlie Appleby-trained Native Trail. Light Infantry finished third on his first start back in the UK for trainer David Simcock.
In a post race interview with ITV Racing, jockey Jim Crowley said, "He's both mentally and physically done really well. He's always been a bit hot in the past but he's been really good. I felt today he had a bit of work to do on the ratings but if we could get our own way out in front, he loves it here and he's improving as well.
He goes to the Lockinge after this, all being well, and he'd have a good chance. He's not ground dependant and for me, the back end of last year he's started to do really well. Hopefully we'll have plenty more days in the sun with him this year."
Mutasaabeq has shortened to 7/1 for the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes.
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