Certainly is. Good jockey too. He sat motionless coming down the hill to make sure he didn't unbalance the horse and could only ask him once they hit the rising ground. On a level track I got the impression he would have won further. However today, had there been some give in the ground, Tropics would have won that so one could argue he was unlucky
This looks a good sprinter. The question must be where does he go next? In order to be granted the title of champion sprinter he will have to win a race over 5f. I would love him to do that but this result rather suggests he needed all of the 6f on Saturday (hence my comment above). He can go to France, he can go to York, he can wait for the Abbaye to show what he can do over 5f. It will be interesting to see what young Mr Hills chooses. If he doesn't choose 5f how about the Foret followed by the Breeder's Cup Mile? Oasis Dream has another good horse and this looks his best colt so far. The Danzig line appears to be dominating at the moment (a noble mention for Dubawi of course) and great though Galileo is he has to prove he can really sire good sires (maybe next year). Green Desert (sire of Oasis Dream) and Danehill seem to be the grand sire or great-grandsire of every 2nd or 3rd winner these days.
Can I disagree with some of the above. I thought the form of the unimaginatively titled ‘July Cup’ was woeful. Let’s consider the evidence shall we. Take out the winner and: The second (beaten a nose) was rated 113 and is 0/7 when raced at Group 1 or Group 2 level, The third (beaten 1.5 lengths) was rated 108 and is 0/4 when raced at Listed level and above, and The fourth (beaten 1.75 lengths) has never won at the distance (0/10 at it) and according to his connections, prior to the race, was no better than a 110 rated animal at 6f. Muhaarar was 121 going into Saturday’s heat. I think that in winning the July Cup he put up a performance no better than 113 or 114. Hardly an inspiring figure for such a prestigious Group 1. No wonder old boy Charlie Hills looked like he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he walked down the grandstand steps! Yes, we can all say he wasn't at ease with the course or he would prefer a tad further but on what he actually achieved at the weekend Muhaarar didn’t accomplish a great deal and looked a lot less impressive than he had done at Royal Ascot. Incidentally, he beat Anthem Alexander, at HQ, by almost as far as he did in the ‘Commonwealth’ so you could say that Ascot performance is now over hyped. Is it time to re-evaluate the 3YO sprinting division and say they aren’t as good as first appeared??? I think so because in no-one’s book can it be said Muhaarar ran to 121 two day’s ago. Another point re the heat. The curse of Godolphin seems to have struck again. Oh what happens to these horses when they transfer to their colours?!?
He won the race though Barney against experienced sprinters. It was also the 2nd quickest time ever produced for the race, I know times aren't everything but he still put in that time. He didn't seem to handle the dip yet still won, hung left into the dip I agree I don't think he ran to 121 but I definitely think he is able to run to 121 and greater. Sprint Cup at Haydock and the Champion Sprint at Ascot, ground dependent. At them tracks I would expect him to win both races
Fair comment SBC. I just felt that finish up the hill was quite something. But on plain numbers you are quite right. Let's see how he runs next time.
If you listened to the jockey immediately after the race, he said the horse was becoming unbalanced going down into the dip and he had to sit still so as not to unbalance him any more. (I think he said he was afraid to move in case he unbalanced him). So it was only when they hit the rising ground that he was able to ask the question. Not many 3yos would have managed to win in those circumstances. I think on a level track he will show how good he is. He probably didn't run to 121 because he wasn't racing for part of the race.
