Mohaather’s turn of foot propelled the four-year-old to victory in Wesnesday’s Group 1 Sussex Stakes (1 mile) at Goodwood.
Well back and in traffic with two furlongs to travel, Mohaather was pulled out widest of all by Jim Crowley and once into clear running room Mohaather let down with a powerful finish to run down longtime leader Circus Maximus to win going away by three-quarters of a length.
Siskin won the battle of the Guineas winners finishing third with Kameko unable to obtain clean running over the final two furlongs.
Mohaather had no luck when unplaced in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal meeting last month but looked potentially special winning the Gr2 Summer Mile at Ascot last time out.
Crowley told Goodwood Racecourse he needed luck to win.
“It was sweet. It was a bit of redemption after Royal Ascot. The race today didn’t really go to plan as I would have liked. I was quite well marked throughout and Mohaather really got me out of that,” Crowley said.
“I was in a bit of a pocket and I knew I was going to need some luck. I knew I wasn’t going to get a run and I knew Siskin was going to play his cards late so my option was to get on the back of him and follow him through.
“We had to let the race unfold before him and then pull around Siskin. When he saw daylight, he just absolutely flew. He showed the most electric turn of foot. To give weight away to younger horses and pick them was just special really.
“I had gone forward in the race and then been taken out of the race and had to go round the field. Obviously giving weight away, I thought that was a very special performance. The way it panned out, he was exceptional.”
Mohaather is the third Gr1 winner for his sire Showcasing and it is the first win at the highest level for trainer Marcus Tregoning since Sir Percy won The Derby.
“I have had to wait a long time for this, but quite honestly we didn’t have the horses. When I left Lambourn I had to start again with not very many – it was like starting from the beginning. Luckily, Sheikh Hamdan supported me very well,” Tregoning said.
“It was a tactical race today and we thought it would be. He struggled to get out, he is not the biggest horse and he struggled to find a gap, but Jim (Crowley) kept his calm and with the knowledge that he has that massive kick.
“It was a little bit of a nightmare to watch, but I knew if Mohaather got out, he would have the speed; he has got a very good turn of foot, as you can see. I know it’s a well-used expression, but he does find heaps under pressure, and I couldn’t have been happier with the way he came into the race – the team have done a great job. Obviously, I am lucky to train horses for Sheikh Hamdan, because he has been an avid supporter, so we are all thrilled.
“Angus Gold sourced the horse for Sheikh Hamdan at Tattersalls Book Two, and sent me to look at him. He was a tiny little thing, but he came from a very stout family, and Angus was quite insistent we got into it if we possibly could, if I could stand the look of the yearling.
“He is a lovely looking horse and I thought in the paddock he had a lot of quality – I know I train him, but he had more quality than the others. He is a beautiful horse and we are so lucky to have him.
“Showcasing is a very good stallion and is doing really well. This is important for the stallion, I know that, because now he has a top-class miler, and a top-class stallion needs to get a good miler, and this is it. They will drop my rent and put his price up, so we’ll be fine!”
Tregoning hinted Mohaather is likely to stay at one mile for the rest of the year.
“The Breeders’ Cup Mile is a possibility. We know one thing – tactical speed round those tighter tracks is what you have to have. This horse has so much pace; I love watching him. He will work on his own if you wanted him to – he’s just a pleasure to be around – but he would have the speed for it, I am sure.
“There’s also Champions Weekend at Ascot. He is in the Prix Jacques le Marois, but that might come a bit quick for him, we’ll have to see.
“But it is entirely up to Sheikh Hamdan, Richard Hills and Angus Gold and so on. I will come up with a plan but I am sure Sheikh Hamdan will have his say.”