Hathal took command in deep stretch on the Newbury turf course to win the $57,462 Dubai Duty Free Cup on Thursday, giving the 3-year-old son of Speightstown and his owner Al Shaqab Racing their first stakes victories with trainer William Haggas.
At the rear of a compact field for most of the seven furlong straight run, Frankie Dettori shifted Hathal to the far side fence for clear running in the final furlong. The chestnut colt had plenty of run left, pulling clear of Ascription to win by a length with Dettori easing up in the final strides (VIDEO).
“He’s a very nice horse and is our first stakes winner for Al Shaqab Racing, and hopefully many more will come,” said Haggas. “We definitely think he’s better at a mile and I’d like to go for a Group 3 race over a mile with him, but the only (race) I can think of (is) the Joel S., which is a Group 2 (at Newmarket Sept. 25.”
Already Group-placed in the June 17 Jersey S. (G3), Hathal is 2-2-0 in six starts. The Kentucky-bred is a half-brother to the English Group stakes winner Gentleman’s Deal.
Speightstown is a top-10 leading General Sire of 2015 with more than $7.5 million in progeny earnings. His dozen stakes winners include six graded winners. He has also been one of the top sires at the Sept. 14-26 Keeneland September Yearling sale, highlighted by a $700,000 filly and $610,000 colt.
