Caravaggio's Maljoom Powers To German 2000 Guineas Glory

William Haggas' Newmarket stable is firing on all cylinders at present and continued its dominance when Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's unbeaten Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) overcame a slow start to maintain his perfect record in Sunday's G2 37th Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen – German 2000 Guineas at Cologne. The April-foaled bay went postward for this first black-type outing coming back off an Apr. 18 all-weather conditions win at Kempton, having made a successful debut over seven furlongs on the Doncaster turf in March. Repeating his slow start at Kempton, the 3-1 second favourite forfeited lengths to his rivals with a dawdling getaway, but recovered to race in rear before tanking into a midfield sixth at halfway. Bustled long approaching the quarter-mile marker, he went second in pursuit of the enterprisingly ridden Rocchigiani (GB) (Time Test {GB})–winner of last year's G3 Zukunftsrennen–with 350 metres remaining and powered by that rival inside the final furlong en route to an ultimately impressive 1 1/4-length success, the duo five lengths clear of Georgios (Ger) (Poet's Voice {GB}) in third.

“He's been a complete star, we're delighted to be here and delighted to have won,” said stable representative Isabella Paul. “We like sending horses abroad when we think they've got a chance and it's always great when they win. We'll take him home, see how he is and take it from there. He holds an entry in the [G1] St James's Palace S. [at Royal Ascot].”

Maljoom, the fourth of five foals and kin to a 2-year-old filly by U S Navy Flag, becomes the first Classic and third pattern-race winner for his sire (by Scat Daddy) and the first for his unraced dam Nictate (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), herself kin to two stakes performers including Listed Michael Seely Memorial Fillies' S. runner-up Sylvestris (Ire) (Arch). Sylvestris, in turn, is the dam of GIII Palm Beach S. victor and GI Summer S. placegetter Vitalogy (GB) (No Nay Never). Maljoom's third dam Gold Pattern (Slew o' Gold), who produced dual Group 3 winner and MG1SP G1 1000 Guineas second Arch Swing (Arch), is out of GI Hollywood Oaks heroine Pattern Step (Nureyev) Pattern Step's descendants also include GI Arkansas Derby-winning sire Archarcharch (Arch) and GI Canadian International S. victor Bullards Alley (Flower Alley).

Sunday, Cologne, Germany
37TH MEHL-MULHENS-RENNEN – GERMAN 2000 GUINEAS-G2, €153,000, Cologne, 5-22, 3yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:35.85, gd.
1–MALJOOM (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Caravaggio
1st Dam: Nictate (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Woodmaven, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Gold Pattern, by Slew o' Gold
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (72,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 160,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-GCE Farm Ltd (IRE); T-William Haggas; J-Stephen Donohoe. €100,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €120,029. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rocchigiani (GB), 128, c, 3, Time Test (GB)–Ronja, by El Corredor. O-Stall Domstadt; B-Dr Till Grewe (GB); T-Peter Schiergen. €30,000.
3–Georgios (Ger), 128, c, 3, Poet's Voice (GB)–Gotia (GB), by Teofilo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€36,000 RNA Ylg '20 BBAGO). O/B-Gestut Ebbesloh (GER); T-Peter Schiergen. €13,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 5, 1 3/4. Odds: 3.00, 11.70, 11.60.
Also Ran: Mr McCann (Ire), The Wizard Of Eye (Ire), Arnis Master (Ger), Becassio (Ger), Mylady (Ger), Fire Of The Sun (Fr), Schwarzer Peter (Ger), Zandjan (Ger). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

🏆37. Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen (G2)
1600m, 153.000 EUR, for 3yo mares and colts
🇩🇪Köln

Maljoom (IRE)
(3C Caravaggio @coolmorestud – Nictate, by Teofilo)
J : Stephen Donohoe
T :W. J. Haggas
O : Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum
B : Gce Farm Ltd pic.twitter.com/8u1E6k1EJz

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