Muteela

31st-May-2014

The drying ground will be very much in Muteela’s favour. She probably wouldn’t want soft ground, but if it does dry then she could be a big player and she is overpriced.

Admittedly she was allowed a solo up front at Beverley on her handicap debut and first run this season, but it was still hard not to be impressed with the style of her victory that day. She never really looked in any danger, it was just hands and heels the whole way, and she galloped on powerfully through the final furlong, hitting the line still full of running. And the time was quite good, given that she went steadily to half way.

She should be even better over this extra half-furlong, she really saw her race out well at Beverley. A half-sister to the Middle Park and Mill Reef winner Awzaan and to Hajras, she has plenty of scope to improve again, and to go a fair way beyond her mark of 87. Also, the fact that she should be ridden prominently again today is a positive.

Paul Hanagan has chosen Zerfaal of the Sheikh Hamdan horses, but that has probably added several points to Muteela’s price. It had to have been a marginal decision for Hanagan, and perhaps one based on the fact that he might know Zerfaal better as he is trained in Newmarket, where Hanagan is now based.

Muteela improved significantly from her first to her second run, and she could take another step forward today.

MUTEELA WON (SP 12/1 [R4])

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