An addition to the QIPCO Guineas Festival in 2023 was the Group Two bet365 Mile, which was transferred to Newmarket following the abandonment of Sandown Park’s card last Friday.
It was five year old horse Mutasaabeq (4-1) who came out on top, making all under Jim Crowley to defeat 8-11 Favourite Native by three lengths. The son of Invincible Spirit is out of 2009 1000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati.
Winning trainer Charlie Hills said: “He’s done that well and with a penalty too, so we’re delighted. He’s beaten some really good horses and Jim (Crowley) has let him get into a good rhythm. He does love it here and the headgear has helped.
“He’s put the race to bed real quick and hit home nicely, so I’m really pleased. He’s got a good record here, obviously there was a new addition to the line-up (compared to last week) with Native Trail. He’s run a good race in this at Sandown before and he was unlucky in it last year, but he’s got a good record here.
“I just love the way he put the race to bed – the blinkers have helped. We’ll look at the Lockinge now I suppose, he’s beautifully bred and the season rather maps itself out with him. It’s a week nearer this time as we were supposed to have this at Sandown last week, so we’ve got to get to work.”
Trainer Charlie Appleby said of the runner-up Native Trail: “William (Buick, jockey) was pleased and he said he was just a bit rusty. You could see from the gate he was just having to chivvy him along a little bit. He said he will sharpen up no end on that but he said that the most important thing was that he wanted it. He nursed him across the line given how long he has been off but he has held on for second. Take nothing away from the winner. He got a nice run and quickened again.
"Where we go next I would say it would be the Queen Anne after that. Not all is lost there at all.”
David Simcock, who saddled the third horse home Light Infantry, who was a further short-head adrift, commented: “I’m delighted with that and it is a good start. He was a little rusty but he stayed on well and went right through the line. I’m really happy. He will go to the Lockinge next like most of the others. He will be going over to Australia at some point to race.”
