3 minute read
Colt provides Sea The Stars with his 68th stakes winner
The Owen Burrows-trained Hukum (3 c ex Aghareed by Kingmambo) followed up his victory in the King George V Stakes (1m4f) with a first stakes win in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Gr 3, 1m5.5f) at Newbury on Saturday, providing Sea The Stars (Green Desert) with his 68th stakes winner and once again highlighting the prowess of the stallion when mated to daughters of Kingmambo (Mr. Prospector).
The three-year-old colt seemed to thrive in the wet conditions, to come away with a two and a half length victory over Max Vega (Lope De Vega), with another two and a quarter lengths back to Alignak (Sea The Moon) in third.
“Jim [Crowley] said he travelled very well, but they didn’t go very quick,” said Burrows. “He did mention that he thought he would be better going a bit quicker. He was just very impressive.
“He had never run on soft ground and until they ran on it there was always that little worry they handled – but he handled it fine. He is strengthening as the year goes on and is very exciting.”
Burrows said the St Leger (Gr 1, 1m6.5f) could be taken into consideration for the colt.
“I don’t think he will go too much further, but there is the St Leger which has been spoken about. He has got a bit of speed. I don’t think we are necessarily talking about a proper staying horse. I don’t see him as a cup horse at all.
“I will speak with Sheikh Hamdan, Angus (Gold) and Richard (Hills) and make a plan. It is great to have one like him.
“I was very fortunate early on to have Massaat who was placed in a 2,000 Guineas, placed in another Group One and won a Group Two here. For the mile-and-a-half-type of horses he would certainly be up there with the best. Laraaib won a Cumberland Lodge, but this horse has got a bit of class about him.
Bred by Shadwell Stud, Hukum is out of the Listed-winning mare Aghareed and becomes the seventh stakes winner bred on the Sea The Stars / Kingmambo cross, which includes Cloth Of Stars and Zelzal. The cross has produced 15 runners, with 13 of them winners, which fires at an extraordinary stakes winners / runners strike rate of 46 per cent.
Aghareed herself is out of dual Grade 1 winner Lahudood (Singspiel), who is a half-sister to Kareemah (Peintre Celebre).
Further back Listed-scoring duo Mamdooha (Daaher) and Lafta (Kitten’s Joy).
Sea The Stars - whose progeny is headed by 14 Group 1 winners include last season's Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Fifty Stars and Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) victor Shraaoh - stood at the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud for a fee of €150,000 this year.
Unbeaten this season
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 15, 2020
Hat-trick
He's classy - Hukum is improving fast and too good in the Geoffrey Freer as a fine campaign continues for Owen Burrows @NewburyRacing @JimCrowley1978 @ojburrows74 @ShadwellRacing pic.twitter.com/UneOIX4Gt5
