Muhaarar and Tropics head towards the line in a thrilling finish

 PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Muhaarar is king of the sprinters after July win

Report: Newmarket, Saturday

Darley July Cup (Group 1) 6f

MUHAARAR followed up his brilliant Commonwealth Cup victory with a last-gasp win over Tropics in the July Cup that confirmed the three-year-old as the new star of British sprinting.

This was a very different sort of performance to Muhaarar’s dominant Ascot victory, however, with the winner needing every single yard of the six furlong trip to get up in a photo-finish.

 

“He didn’t really come down the hill but he’s a fighter and battled all the way to the line,” said trainer Charlie Hills, who added his horse had not appreciated the track. “He’s just a very, very good horse.”

Hills had also expressed concern before the race that Muhaarar’s royal meeting romp may have taken a heavier toll on his charge than it appeared and undoubtedly this was not the freewheeling Muhaarar who so effortlessly slayed a classy field in the Commonwealth Cup.

Astaire, Tropics and the Australian sprinter Brazen Beau cut out the early speed and heading into the final furlong it looked as if the Dean Ivory-trained Tropics was going to take a notable prize for his trainer.

But Paul Hanagan had finally found top gear on Muhaarar, who had been pushed along since halfway, and with the post approaching he ground down Tropics with a withering drive.

‘Unlucky’

Tropics filled the same position last year, losing by one and a half lengths to Slade Power, and also finished second in the Group 2 British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot.

“He travelled so strongly and it’s not ideal ground for him,” said Ivory. “He was just unlucky really, we’ll keep going I’ve got so much faith in the horse.”

Eastern Impact ran a huge race at 50-1 to finish third, while five furlong specialist Sole Power showed six is not beyond his reach with a commendable fourth-placed finish.

Aussie raider Brazen Beau, who ran a fine race to finish second in the Diamond Jubilee last month, was a disappointing seventh after weakening in the final furlong.

As for Muhaarar, the question now is just how good he might be after a good rest and back on a more suitable track. Hills mentioned the Prix Maurice de Gheest, the Haydock Sprint Cup and British Champions Sprint Stakes back at Ascot as targets.

 

NEWMARKET (JULY) RESULTS

GOING: GOOD TO FIRM (Overall 8.1; Stands’ side 8.0; Centre 8.2; Far side 8.2). Weather conditions: sunny and warm. 
STALLS: Stands’ side course: 1m4f – Centre; Remainder – Stands’ side

2:00 - bet365 Mile (Handicap) Full result 1m, Class 2, £24,900.00 1 Western Reserve 11/2F  2 Great Park 11/1  3 Mutasayyid 10/1  12 ran Distances: nk, 2¼l, 1¾l TIME 1m 36.21s (slow by 0.51s) Jockey: Pat Smullen Trainer: Lady Cecil WIN £6.30 PL £2.30, £4.00, £3.50 Ex £72.00 CSF £65.92 TRICAST £605.05 Watch Replay Analysis	2:35 - Bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2) Full result 7f, Class 1, £45,368.00 1 Birchwood 7/1  2 Air Vice Marshal 11/4F  3 Tony Curtis 12/1  NR: Taking Libertys 8 ran Distances: 1l, nk, 2¼l TIME 1m 23.33s (slow by 0.53s) Jockey: James Doyle Trainer: Richard Fahey WIN £8.20 PL £2.50, £1.20, £3.60 Ex £34.40 CSF £27.21 Juvenile course record. Watch Replay Analysis	3:10 - bet365 Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap) Full result 7f, Class 2, £74,700.00 1 Rene Mathis 16/1  2 One Word More 16/1  3 Heaven’s Guest 11/1  4 Related 14/1  NR: Boomshackerlacker (IRE),Highland Colori (IRE), Windfast(IRE) 17 ran Distances: 1l, hd, nse TIME 1m 22.61s (fast by 0.19s) Jockey: Paul Hanagan Trainer: Richard Fahey WIN £23.40 PL £5.60, £3.40, £3.40, £3.70 Ex £556.20 CSF £264.13 Watch Replay Analysis
3:45 - Darley July Cup (British Champions Series And Global Sprint Challenge) (Group 1) Full result 6f, Class 1, £283,550.00 1 Muhaarar 2/1J  2 Tropics 25/1  3 Eastern Impact 50/1  NR: Caspar Netscher 14 ran Distances: nse, 1½l, nk TIME 1m 9.34s (fast by 0.86s) Jockey: Paul Hanagan Trainer: Charles Hills WIN £2.80 PL £1.40, £7.60, £11.60 Ex £69.20 CSF £69.60 TRICAST £2001.91 Watch Replay Analysis	4:20 - Rossdales EBF Stallions Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (Plus 10 Race) Full result 7f, Class 4, £6,469.00 1 Ballydoyle 4/7F  2 Nemoralia 7/2  3 Haggle 28/1  10 ran Distances: 2¾l, 2¼l, 1¼l TIME 1m 23.89s (slow by 1.09s) Jockey: Joseph O’Brien Trainer: A P O’Brien WIN £1.50 PL £1.10, £1.40, £7.60 Ex £3.80 CSF £3.04 Watch Replay Analysis	4:55 - Spa At Bedford Lodge Hotel Nursery Handicap Full result 7f, Class 2, £16,172.50 1 First Selection 11/2  2 Spongy 5/1  3 Tawdheef 6/1  8 ran Distances: shd, 1l, 1½l TIME 1m 24.78s (slow by 1.98s) Jockey: Jim Crowley Trainer: Simon Crisford WIN £7.10 PL £2.00, £1.90, £1.90 Ex £31.90 CSF £33.29 TRICAST £171.81 Watch Replay Analysis
5:30 - Longines Irish Champions Weekend Handicap Full result 1m4f, Class 3, £9,703.50 1 Maxwell 15/8F  2 Endless Credit 3/1  3 Castilo Del Diablo 6/1  NR: First Sitting, Jacob Cats 5 ran Distances: 2¾l, 5l, 2½l TIME 2m 29.41s (slow by 2.91s) Jockey: Pat Smullen Trainer: Ralph Beckett WIN £2.70 PL £1.50, £1.80 Ex £6.80 CSF £7.88 PLACEPOT £222.00 to a £1 stake. Pool: £194,641.12 – 639.83 winning tickets. QUADPOT £42.20 to a £1 stake. Pool: £13,131.65 – 230.10 winning tickets. Watch Replay Analysis