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Poignant double in South Africa and USA over the weekend
Malathaat (3 f Curlin - Dreaming Of Julia by A P Indy) and Malmoos (3 c Captain Al - Justthewayyouare by Fort Wood) provided the Shadwell Stud operation with a poignant Grade 1 double over the weekend following the death of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum last week.
The Todd Pletcher-trained Malathaat is now unbeaten in four career starts that also include the Demoiselle Stakes (Gr 1, 9f) and in winning Sunday’s Ashland Stakes (Gr 1, 9.5f) she becomes the 14th Grade 1 winner for Curlin (Smart Strike) and is one of the sires 77th stakes winners. Settled down in second last one off the rail in the early stages, Malathaat made her move approaching the home turn and went wide rounding the turn. She ran on well in the straight to run own Pass The Champagne (Flatter) in the closing stages and score a head victory. Will’s Secret (Will Take Charge) was another five and a quarter lengths back in third.
Shadwell Farm’s Rick Nichols told Bloodhorse: "I can’t put it into words. I am sure (Sheikh Hamdan) is up there with a big smile on his face looking down on us. We really needed this.
"I think she might be pretty special. We will see if we can get in the (Kentucky) Oaks and see what we can get done."
Bought for US$1,050,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Shadwell Estate Company, Malathaat is the only winner out of Grade 1 winner out of Dreaming Of Julia (A P Indy) who is herself a daughter of dual Grade 1 winner Dream Rush (Wild Rush).
Earlier in the day in South Africa, the Mike de Kock-trained Malmoos (3 f Captain Al - Justthewayyouare by Fort Wood) scored an impressive victory in the South African Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) under jockey Luke Ferraris. Pamushana’s Pride (Louis The King) was five and a quarter lengths back in second with Second Base (Gimmethegreenlight) a close third.
Bred by Varsfontein Stud and bought by Shadwell South African for R4,400,000 at the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, Malmoos has now won seven of his eight career starts including the South African Classic (Gr 1, 1800m). He is one of five winners out of Listed winning mare Justthewayyouare (Fort Wood) making him a half-brother to dual Grade 3 winner Captain Splendid (Captain Al).
