Jersey Stakes
Group 3, Ascot 14:30 £75,000 added, 3yo, 7f, Class 1
Wednesday 18th June 2014

1 Mustajeeb 9/2F
2 Muwaary 9/2JF
3 Giovanni Boldini 14/1
23 ran Distances: 1l, 2¼l, ½l
TIME 1m 24.54s (fast by 1.06s)

Dermot Weld's Mustajeeb gets the second day underway with victory in the Jersey Stakes.

Mustajeeb leads home Muwaary to make it a one-two for Sheikh Hamdan.

Winning trainer Dermot Weld: "Mustajeeb is very genuine. He's already a good Group winner over a mile and he'll probably go back to a mile."

Mustajeeb
© Caroline Norris

Trainer Dermot Weld welcomed in his 16th Royal Ascot winner when Hamdan Al Maktoum's Mustajeeb won the Group Three Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs from the John Gosden-trained Muwaary, who carried the same owner's first colours.

Mustajeeb, seven lengths third to Kingman in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last time, franked the Classic form when winning by a length in a fast time of 1m 24.54s.

Weld said: "He is a very genuine colt, tough and honest, and a very progressive horse. He won his Group race against older horses at Leopardstown over a mile and he came home very well - he was the only three-year-old in the field.

"He is very consistent and was at the top of his game today. I have the highest regard for Kingman and you never know in racing what may happen. Today was our day while yesterday was Kingman's day. It is possible they could meet again later in the year.

"It is great for Sheikh Hamdan to own the first and the second and this happened in the Epsom Oaks recently when Taghrooda (John Gosden) beat Tarfasha who I saddled. John won then and I won today!

"I will speak with Sheikh Hamdan about what he wants to do next. I expect we will go back over a mile with Mustajeeb - I feel he is a miler. This colt has a future. He is very adaptable and will go on any ground but he appreciates fast ground. We thought that he would win today and he did it well.

"Kingman winning yesterday didn't surprise me. I think that he is an outstanding miler and we were beaten fair and square in the Irish Guineas.

"Royal Ascot has been very lucky for me. Pale Mimosa, who is very well, is in the Gold Cup but if the ground is very fast tomorrow she will be doubtful."

Angus Gold. Racing manager to Hamdan Al Maktoum, commented: ""Fair play to Mr Weld. He was second in the Oaks to Mr Gosden, so it is revenge today. I am thrilled for Sheikh Hamdan and both trainers. Both horses came here with Classic form, hopefully they are a pair of improving three-year-olds, and they have shown their class today.

"I was talking to Pat (Smullen) before and he said Mustajeeb could never really get going on the ground in Ireland and it stretched his stamina a bit. They have always believed in this horse and it is great to see him do it.

"We will go and think about where to go next. This was a big step up - I find the Jersey is almost as competitive as the Guineas these days. I don't think that he will go any further than a mile, so he wouldn't be one for the Irish Champion. We will have a look at all of the top mile races and see."

Jersey Stakes
£75,000 added, 3yo only, 7f, Class 1
23 ran
Going: Good