Mutamam
takes the honours in Canada
Mutamam,
trained in England by Alec Stewart, was eventually announced
the winner of Sunday's sixth leg of the Emirates World Series
- the Canadian International. Following a number of objections,
including one against the winner, the result took a while
before being called official.
After surviving the objection the son of
Darshaan, returned at 4.25-1, claimed the Canadian International
with the Andreas Suborics-ridden Paolini finishing half
a length second.
Zindabad, trained in England by Mark Johnston, crossed
the line in third place but was found to have caused interference
inside the final furlong and was disqualified and placed
sixth.
Sir Michael Stoute's Daliapour, ridden by Johnny Murtagh,
crossed in fourth place but was was found to have interfered
with Strut The Stage in the first bend of the race and was
disqualified to seventh.
In a day full of drama it was also announced that there
was a dead heat for fourth between the Don Burke-trained
Falcon Flight and Mark Frostad's Strut The Stage, who was
the 2.65-1 favourite.
After the race jockey Richard Hills said, "The race
went very well and it was good to get him settled in the
race. This track really suits European runners."
Asked about the lengthy stewards inquiry, Hills stated,
"I did not feel that I had hit the second horse and
after I watched the replay I could see that I had made no
contact at all. After the decision I felt that they were
very professional stewards.
"I was pleased to win this race as it is a World Series
event which is very important to us. It has really been
a weekend I will never forget."
Yesterday (Saturday) at Ascot Racecourse in England, Hills
landed two races including the Group One Queen Elizabeth
II Stakes with Godolphin's Summoner.
Victorious trainer Alec Stewart said, "I am very pleased
that Sheikh Hamdan has left this horse in training as we
have had a lot of fun with him. We will not make a decision
on where he runs next until we have discussed the issue
with the owner."
Murtagh, who had ridden an amazing race earlier in the
afternoon to claim the Grade One E P Taylor on Choc Ice,
said of Daliapour, "He ran well, he was in a great
position, just following the winner, but at the top of the
stretch he stopped running hard. I guess he just didn't
have the kick."
In the race for the Emirates World Series championship
Mutamam now moves into equal third place on 12 points behind
leaders Galileo and Fantastic Light. Paolini is now closing
on the leaders with nine points.
Andreas Wohler, trainer of Arlington Million winner Silvano
and Canadian International runner-up Paolini, takes the
lead in the trainer's championship with 25 points, one point
ahead of Aidan O'Brien.
Wohler commented, "It was so close to the finish that
it was fair they did not award the objection to us. My jockey
insisted that his horse was hit but also agreed in the fairness
of not giving the objection to us as it was so close to
the finish line."
Suborics is one step closer to fulfilling his dream of
becoming the first Austrian World Champion since Nikki Lauda
by taking the lead in the jockey's standings with 22 points,
four ahead of reigning World Champion Frankie Dettori.
After the race Suborics said, "I came out of there
very fast to get a good position. When we came to the straight,
I came very good and was making good headway and there was
a big fight on to the line."
Todd Kabel, jockey of Strut The Stage, said, "I got
shut off into the first turn, but other than that I had
no excuses. My horse ran a great trip."
Slew The Red, trained in France by Andre Fabre, never really
got into the race and finished eigth. His jockey Olivier
Peslier said, "He ran OK, but he never really put in
a real good run. I was hoping for a little more, he didn't
have much in the stretch."
The next leg of the Emirates World Series takes place on
Sunday with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere
at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France.
