Four straight for Tamarkuz after $1 million Goldolphin Mile (G2) score

Speightstown’s top sprinter Tamarkuz outgamed Sloane Avenue in the Meydan stretch to score his fourth consecutive stakes win, three of them graded, at the sprawling U.A.E. racetrack, in the $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2).

Tamarkuz is one of Speightstown’s five stakes winners this year. His progeny have earned nearly $2.3 million to date, ranking third on the 2015 General Sire list.

After a few missteps that caused 5-year-old Tamarkuz to break somewhat tardily from the rail, jockey Paul Hanagan had to hustle Tamarkuz a bit to get into position early. Down the backstretch and into the turn, Hanagan had nowhere to go with horses surrounding him.

Turning for home in the long Meydan stretch, Hanagan finally found some room to the outside and ran down pacesetter Frankyfourfingers. Sloane Avenue mounted a bold challenge on the outside, but Tamarkuz dug down deep in the final 100 yards to win by a nose.

The winning time for the 1,600 meters on a fast track was 1:36.81.

“He dug so deep in the end there; he’s really genuine, such a good horse,” said Paul Hanagan. “When you win four (in a row), you have to give him a lot of respect.”

Racing Manager Angus Gold told Dubai Racing Channel “I really wouldn’t want to presume of the owner’s plans, but for sure he’d be a hell of a horse for America and could make a stallion there. We’ll see what Sheikh Hamdan wants to do, but he’s definitely good enough to give it a try.” 

First-year trainer Musabah al Muhairi trains Tamarkuz for Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum. The winner was bred in Kentucky by John Gunther. Tamarkuz is out of Without You Babe, who is a sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Stay Thirsty.

With the win, Tamarkuz is 7-2-0 in 13 starts and has earned $965,444. He was a $325,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland.