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| Staff Writer |
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In the upcoming Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, Shadwell will be depending on Mostahdaf as it has been confirmed that King George winner Hukum will not be added as a supplement.
Mostahdaf's connections will be closely monitoring the weather, as showers are expected before Champions Day. The 5YO is currently in a battle for the top spot with Prix Dollar winner Horizon Dore, having won the Juddmonte International in his previous outing.
Mostahdaf's 2023 campaign began with a victory in the Gr.3 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia in February. He then finished fourth by seven lengths behind Equinox in the Sheema Classic before winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in his first British start of the year. Mostahdaf secured his second Group One at York under Frankie Dettori, who was standing in for the suspended Jim Crowley.
"Hopefully we won't get too much rain," said Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold. "He doesn't want it bottomless, like it can be at Ascot. On his best form he's bang there. He's proven himself to be one of the best if not the best mile-and-a-quarter older horses in Europe.
"He's won two of the biggest races over that trip, having been impressive in Saudi. He ran well at Ascot and then showed what he's capable of at York. He'd have to have a good chance on Saturday, but it's late in the season and often a question of who manages to hold their form best."
Richard Hills, Shadwell's assistant racing manager, had considered the possibility of entering Hukum in the Champion Stakes, given that the ground conditions would be suitable for him. However, the 6YO horse, who recently finished in ninth place at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, will not be included in the race on Monday.
His victory in the King George is one of a number of big-race successes for Shadwell this season, and Gold added, "Any Group One is a highlight, but to win a Prince of Wales's, a King George and a Juddmonte in the same year would have to be a fantastic year for anyone. We've been very lucky."
The ground at Ascot was described as soft on Sunday, and clerk of the course Chris Stickels said, "We've had 23mm of rain since Wednesday, so not a huge amount compared to the rest of the country. I'd imagine we might see some good to soft in the description by end of play tomorrow.
"There's a fine forecast until Wednesday night and the question mark is what happens after then. Originally we were forecast some showers on Thursday and Friday, but the forecast is changing and we could be more likely to get a wet end to the week with the possibility of four to six millimetres of rain.
"It's a bit up in the air so we'll see how it looks as the week progresses. It does look like the risk of showers is greater towards the end of the week."