Maftool Provides UAE 2000 Guineas Joy

Maftool repelled the persistent challenge of Mubtaahij to score by a head in the Group Three UAE 2000 Guineas Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors over a mile on dirt at Meydan, UAE on Thursday, February 12.

The three-year-old Hard Spun colt, trained Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by Paul Hanagan, broke well and raced in fourth towards the outside of the seven-strong field.

He went third with three furlongs left and loomed up to press for the lead entering the final quarter-mile.

Maftool took the advantage well over a furlong from home and ran on strongly to see off Mubtaahij and prevail in 1m 37.69s, with the first two clear. They finished 10 and three-quarter lengths ahead of the third Ajwad.

Saeed bin Suroor declared: "Maftool's performance pleased me. The mile and a visor helped him a lot and he battled well.

"He might have one more race before the UAE Derby (Group Two, nine and a half furlongs, dirt, March 28). We will see how he is after this race."

Paul Hanagan added: "Maftool felt great tonight. He has a tendency to be a bit too relaxed in the stalls and be slowly away, so that was the first key to get away with the others. They have done a great job at home with him.

"He was just starting to get a bit of the kickback and I had to sit a bit handier to keep him out of it. So I got there sooner than I wanted to.

"He wasn't doing much in front. He is still a bit of a baby and is learning about the game but I think the visor has helped him concentrate a bit more.

"I always thought I was going to beat Mubtaahij. Maftool gave me a bit of a scare when he got to the front - he was just idling but went again when Mubtaahij came to my girths.

"Maftool will get further - no danger."

Maftool is Godolphin's eighth winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas following on from Bachir (2000), Street Cry (2001), Essence Of Dubai (2002), Desert Party (2009), Splash Point (2011), Kinglet (2012) and Long John (2014).