Classy Alhebayeb Stakes Early Gimcrack Claim

13th July, 2012 - Posted by Elliot Slater - Comments Off

The Richard Hannon-trained colt, Alhebayeb, put up a pleasing performance to land the Group 2 TNT July Stakes on the opening day of Newmarket’s showcase summer fixture. In the process, he put down a marker for his claim to consideration for the coveted Gimcrack Stakes at the Betfair York Ebor meeting in August, writes Elliot Slater.

Owned by Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, and handled by champion trainer, Richard Hannon, the talented son of Dark Angel is probably unlucky not to be unbeaten in all three career starts.

He failed by only half-a-length to catch Hototo in the listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, last month, a race in which he was finishing better than anything in the 22-runner field, having just missed the kick when the stalls opened for the five furlong contest.

At Newmarket, everything fell into place for the horse who had made his racecourse bow only five weeks earlier, when winning a five-runner maiden event at Nottingham, Paul Hanagan’s mount jumping away on terms with the rest of the field, and soon establishing an ideal position just on the heels of the leaders on his first attempt at six furlongs.

When the champion jockey asked his mount for his effort just over a furlong from home, he moved readily into the lead, only to be soon headed by Jamie Spencer on Ahern. The youngster immediately fought back and got the better of that rival before, holding the late flourish of Lewisham by a neck.

The 9/2 winner clearly delighted connections, and seems likely to head north to the Knavesmire, next month, to attempt to build on this fine effort.

He will then step up another furlong towards the end of the term where, if all has gone to plan, he could be a genuine candidate for honours in the races that set the mark for the ante-post market for next year’s 2000 Guineas.

Camborne is the current favourite to win the Gimcrack Stakes in the Betfair horse racing betting, closely followed by Simeon.