racing_news/

Awesome Awzaan Gives Shadwell a Day to Remember
02/10/09

1 (2) Awzaan 4/1
2 (4) Radiohead 14/1

Shadwell Stud has been a loyal sponsor at this meeting and they were richly rewarded when Sheikh Hamdan’s homebred colt, by the Shadwell stallion Alhaarth, landed the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes by three quarters of a length from the fast-finishing Radiohead.

Awzaan
© racing-images.co.uk

The Mark Johnston-trained colt is now unbeaten in four starts including the Mill Reef Stakes and he looks likely to retain his spotless juvenile record as he is almost certain not to run again this season.

Johnston said: “He looked like they were going a bit quick for him for a while there and he stumbled at least twice so I had started to think that he wasn’t going to pick up but when he goes, he goes.

“He’s very easy at home, he’s fantastic. He got a little bit buzzed up here on the July Course. It was Sheikh Hamdan’s idea to give him a break then and that has worked perfectly.”

Reflecting on Awzaan’s progress this season, Johnston added: “It was a very good maiden that he won at Hamilton and we knew we had a decent horse after that. We came here for the conditions race and again, they don’t come much hotter than they did in that race - they had all won their last start.

“So he’s run in very good races and he’s improved and coped with whatever has been thrown at him.”

Asked whether he thought that the colt, who has received quotes of 12/1 from both Boylesports and Paddy Power for next year’s stanjames.com 2000 Guineas at the Rowley Mile, would get the mile of the Classic, the trainer replied: “He’s the classic speed horse and doesn’t go until you ask him so he doesn’t waste any energy. I’ve never thought that a mile would be a problem for him.”

Richard Hills, the winning rider, said: “He’s quite a special horse. He has got a good cruising speed and he can really quicken. He did it well - he was just slightly tempted to go left at the end but if that’s all he does, it’s not bad.

“It was pretty full on from the start. I was stuck on the outside and I wanted to get some cover but I couldn’t really get to where I wanted. He’s pretty straightforward and he quickened up and got the trip really well. He’s a super horse with a great attitude. He has his ears pricked and he is always enjoying himself.”

Sheikh Hamdan’s racing manager Angus Gold agreed about the mile, adding: “Richard Hills says he’ll stay a mile. I imagine that’s it for him now this season and we can spend the winter dreaming.”

Three of the first four stakes races on the card today have fallen to the offspring of Shadwell stallions, with the winner of the Sakhee Oh So Sharp Stakes, Tabassum, by Nayef, another juvenile for the team to be excited about for next year.

“For the last few years, we haven’t really had a two-year-old to look forward to and now we have Awzaan and the filly (Tabassum),” said Gold, who added, “Hopefully Arcano will run in the Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes too.”

Looking ahead to the participation of stanjames.com 1000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati in tomorrow’s Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes, Gold said: “If she runs well tomorrow, there’s always been talk of her having a go at the Champion Stakes.”

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Awzaan M Johnston	R Hills 8st 12lbs	4 - 1 Winner
2	Radiohead B J Meehan	Martin Dwyer 8st 12lbs	14 - 1 3/4 length
3	Showcasing J H M Gosden	J Fortune 8st 12lbs	2 - 1 Neck
4	Poet's Voice S bin Suroor	L Dettori 8st 12lbs	15 - 8 1 length
5	Arctic T Collins	P J Smullen 8st 12lbs	6 - 1 2 3/4 lengths

Connections were very happy with the effort of Radiohead, who came from way off the pace with a strong run inside the final furlong to finish second in the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes, beaten three-quarters of a length by Awzaan.

Trainer Brian Meehan said: “I am very happy, delighted.

“We will take him home and see how he is but he could go for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, a race his father (Johannesburg) won.”

Part-owner Peter Burrell added: “He has been on the go since the meeting here in May and he has never disappointed us.

“When he won at Ascot it was a great day. We will let Brian decide where he goes next.”

Back in third, beaten a further neck, was Showcasing and his trainer John Gosden believes the Oasis Dream colt was unsuited by the course.

The Newmarket handler said: “He wasn’t happy coming into the dip and just got a bit unbalanced, as he can do sometimes.

“He will be better back on a flatter track. He just got in a bit of a tangle today.

“That’s it for this season and he will probably reappear at York next year before going to Ascot.”