By Sean Cronin
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's twice-raced Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) broke through tackling six furlongs in a July 28 Goodwood maiden and continued his upward path with a decisive victory returning in Saturday's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. at Newbury. The February-foaled bay, who had posted a close-up fourth in a July 19 novice heat over Newbury's straight six in his only other start, was 3/4-of-a-length too good for King Power Racing's 475,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling Fivethousandtoone (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), with G1 Prix Morny third Rhythm Master (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) 2 3/4 lengths further back and best of the rest. The 8-1 chance was steadied to race within range of the leaders at the tail of the field after breaking to the fore in this black-type bow. Making smooth headway once past halfway, he quickened smartly to launch his bid entering the final furlong and was pushed out from there to comfortably outpoint 5-2 favourite Fivethousandttoone for a career high.
“I worked him on some faster ground this week, I could see he was very good on it and it has been one of those nice upward curves with him,” said Marcus Tregoning with renewed focus following the enforced retirement of stable star Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) last month. “He is not jarred, he doesn't feel the ground and will progress and go on. I knew we had this one coming through and we just had to keep him right. He's stabled right next door to my house and if he moves, like Mohaather did through the night, it wakes me up, but it is worth it.” Looking ahead, the resurgent trainer added, “There is a lot of speed on the dam's side, but if we are allowed and everybody agrees, we will try to mould him to at least get seven furlongs and then after that we will see. If you could get him to drop in and settle, like he did today, there is every chance he will get a little bit further. I think that is the way to go. It opens up the game plan a bit and we could always come back to six furlongs. Sheikh Hamdan may want to put him away after today, but I'd be keen to run him in Group 1 company before the end of the season if there is a suitable race.”
Alkumait, one of four winners and three black-type performers out of Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), is kin to Listed Committed S. victor The Broghie Man (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) and Listed Prix Herod placegetter Gloves Lynch (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}). He is also full to a yearling filly and half to a weanling colt by Frankel (GB). Suelita, a granddaughter of GIII Matchmaker S. winner Horatia (Ire) (Machiavellian), is a multiple-winning half-sister to G3 Cornwallis S. runner-up Outer Space (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) and to the dam of last term's G2 Lowther S. victress Living In The Past (Fr) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}). Horatia, who produced G3 Pinnacle S. victrix and GI E.P. Taylor S. placegetter Moment In Time (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), is a half-sister to dual G2 Lonsdale Cup scorer Opinion Poll (Ire) (Halling) from the family of G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.-winning sire Markofdistinction (GB) (Known Fact).
Saturday, Newbury, Britain
DUBAI DUTY FREE MILL REEF S.-G2, £60,000, Newbury, 9-19, 2yo, 6fT, 1:09.70, gd.
1–ALKUMAIT (GB), 127, c, 2, by Showcasing (GB)
1st Dam: Suelita (GB), by Dutch Art (GB)
2nd Dam: Venoge (Ire), by Green Desert
3rd Dam: Horatia (Ire), by Machiavellian
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (150,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 220,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Marcus Tregoning; J-Jim Crowley. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $61,788. *1/2 to The Broghie Man (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), SW-Ire & SP-Fr; and Gloves Lynch (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}), SP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fivethousandtoone (Ire), 127, c, 2, Frankel%20(GB)#tot">Frankel (GB)–Promised Money (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). (475,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £12,900.
3–Rhythm Master (Ire), 127, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Pastoral Girl (GB), by Pastoral Pursuits (GB). (210,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-John Dance; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey. £6,456.
Margins: 3/4, 2 3/4, HF. Odds: 8.00, 2.50, 3.00.
Also Ran: First Edition (Ire), Bahrain Pride (GB), Cairn Gorm (GB), Devilwala (Ire), Line of Departure (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
