2012 May Hill Stakes

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Ihtimal Hits May Hill Target
13/09/13

1 Ihtimal 11/10F
2 Majeyda 9/2
3 Lady Lara 12/1
7 ran Distances: 2l, 2l, 1l
TIME 1m 43.30s (slow by 6.50s)

Ihtimal collected the Barrett Steel May Hill Stakes in the style of a highly promising filly.

Ihtimal
© Racehorse Photos

The 11/10 favourite burst clear of the field in the final furlong and her six rivals had no answer to her finishing kick as she powered clear of Majeyda to give Godolphin a one-two in the race. The two-year-old is bred in the purple and her grand-dam was a half-sister to Godolphin’s Investec Oaks and Irish Derby winner Balanchine.

“She’s certainly got an engine and showed a very smart turn of foot to win,” said Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford. “We weren’t sure whether she’d act on this ground and we only decided to run her after seeing the first race today. Normally horses can’t accelerate like that on slow ground which suggests the going may not be as bad as we first thought. She’s got the mile well and there will be no problem with her getting a mile and a quarter next season and beyond.

“She can’t be described in the same breath as Balanchine yet though. She was a top-class filly and while this one is useful at the moment, she’s got a fair way to go before she matches her. We’ll head to the Fillies’ Mile (at Newmarket) with her now and she’ll be given a Guineas preparation.”

Jockey Silvestre de Sousa was also impressed with the two-year-old. “She was travelling well throughout the race and I was quite happy with my position,” said de Sousa.

“I was travelling so well that, if the gap hadn’t come, she would have opened her own gap. She’s not very big but she has got the job done. I never touched her and she has done it with her own ability. I think that she will strengthen up through the winter and she has a bright future.”

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor was looking forward to the future with the daughter of Street Cry. “We talked before the race and wanted to keep her nice and relaxed throughout the race. She showed some class when she won her Group Three at Newmarket and we weren’t really sure about the ground today but she handled it well.

“For the future, we are looking at the Fillies’ Mile for her now. We will talk with Sheikh Mohammed and decide. She is an easy filly to train. She shows a turn of foot in the mornings and she is nice and tough. She tries very hard and she will be good in the future. She is a small filly but she has an engine and, with her class, I think that she will be fine next year. Silvestre (de Sousa) works very hard. He rides the horses every morning and knows them really well. You need the jockey to know the horses and he loves the job. I always like to see him ride close up in the race, in second or third.”

This was a fourth consecutive victory in the race for Godolphin after Certify (2012), Lyric Of Light (2011) and White Moonstone (2010).

Crisford was also pleased with the performance of the runner-up, who could also head to Newmarket.

“She’s run up to her best, we’re very pleased with her but she’s been beaten by the better filly on the day. However, we might look at the Fillies’ Mile for her as well.”

Barrett Steel May Hill Stakes (Fillies' Group 2) (Str)
£70,000 added, 2yo only, 1m, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good to Soft

RECENT WINNERS
Year Horse Trainer Jockey Owner SP

2012 Certify Mahmood Al Zarooni Mickael Barzalona Godolphin 4/6 fav
2011 Lyric Of Light Mahmood Al Zarooni Frankie Dettori Godolphin 9/1
2010 White Moonstone Saeed bin Suroor Frankie Dettori Godolphin 8/11 fav
2009 Pollenator Richard Hannon Ryan Moore The Royal Ascot Racing Club 14/1
2008 Rainbow View John Gosden Jimmy Fortune George Strawbridge 1/3 fav
2007 Spacious James Fanshawe Jamie Spencer Cheveley Park Stud 9/4 fav
2006 Simply Perfect Jeremy Noseda Darryll Holland Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, Sue Magnier 4/1
2005 Nasheej Richard Hannon Richard Hughes Malih L Al Basti 4/1
2004 Playful Act John Gosden Jimmy Fortune Sangster Family 8/1
2003 Kinnaird Patrick Haslam Kevin Darley Alastair Dinsmore 9/1
2002 Summitville James Given Michael Fenton Mountain High Partnership 11/2
2001 Half Glance Henry Cecil Richard Quinn Khalid Abdullah 5/2
2000 Karasta Sir Michael Stoute Johnny Murtagh H H Aga Khan 5/4 fav
1999 Teggiano Clive Brittain Frankie Dettori Abdullah Saeed Bul Hab 13/2