Haydock: Al Shaqab’s Hathal made a winning return in the Superior Mile (Gr3) at Haydock on Saturday.
Ridden by Frankie Dettori and trained by William Haggas, the four-year-old colt fought hard to beat Mitchum Swagger by a head.
It is the first Group success for Hathal, who has not been running since he won a listed race last season. The Queen Elizabeth II Cup Stakes at Ascot on October 15 is now the main target of the colt.
“He needs the rain, I don’t!” said jockey Dettori,
“I was delighted when it was raining this morning and he’s a brave horse as well. He loves a fight and sticks his head out.”
“He’s just had niggling issues and William took his time with him”, added Alison Begley, representing Al Shaqab Racing.
“He’s always loved this horse and his patience has paid off,” William said
“When the horse was coming back, the QEII would be an end-of-season target.”
“It’s probably getting extreme out here, but he does like a bit of cut in the ground,” he added.
The Peninsula
