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| Sumita Pawar |
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Al Musmak, the son of Night Of Thunder trained by Roger Varian, is set to race in the Qipco 2000 Guineas on Saturday week. Despite being an outsider, Al Musmak is expected to put up a strong fight, given his impressive performance in the past.
He has previously won the Listed Ascendant Stakes in Haydock and secured credible placements in other races. His trainer has been planning his return to the Rowley Mile for the opening Classic, and is confident that the colt will deliver a great performance in his first race of the campaign.
“It’s our intention to run Al Musmak in the 2000 Guineas and he’s training nicely at home,” said Varian.
“He’s got some very solid form from last year, finishing runner-up to Rosallion in the Pat Eddery Stakes and winning a strong Ascendant Stakes where the second, third and fourth all run at Sandown in the Classic Trial and we’ll be keen to have a good look at that form. Then he wasn’t beaten too far by the Clive Cox horse (Ghostwriter) when second in the Royal Lodge.
“He’s a 108-rated, strong performer and it’s always been our intention to go straight to a Guineas with him and we’re looking forward to doing that.”
Bookmakers have currently rated Al Musmak at 50/1 shot for the Guineas, but his impressive juvenile form suggests that he is capable of putting up a strong fight on 4th May. Despite the underestimation by the bookmakers, Varian is hopeful that the colt will improve and deliver a great performance in the upcoming race.
“There are a lot of good horses from those autumn races and he’s got solid form,” added Varian.
“He’s 108 not 118, so he needs to improve to bring home a 2000 Guineas. But he’s going into the race fresh, he’s wintered well and he looks a stronger horse – it’s not beyond him to run well.”
Varian is yet to make a decision about whether to enter his two contenders, True Cyan and Elmalka, for the Qipco 1000 Guineas race the following day. Both fillies recently participated in trial races, with True Cyan finishing fourth in the Nell Gwyn after struggling for cover, while Elmalka made an impressive comeback by clinching third position in the Fred Darling, missing the win by only half a length.
Varian was happy with the performance of both fillies, and particularly impressed with Elmalka's display. However, the final call on their participation in the Classic race will be made as late as possible.
Varian continued, “Elmalka finished off really well (at Newbury). She was a bit green and hit a flat spot and I think she would have been nicely on top with another 100 yards, so it was a very good run and we were delighted with her.
“We’ve got no commitment on either at the moment and will see how they both train over the next seven days, then we will be in a better position come the time next week when we have to decide.
“It’s still on the table for both fillies and they were left in at Tuesday’s forfeit stage and have both come out of their races well, but I don’t know yet if either will line-up.”