Hukum Strikes Gold On Way To Sheema Classic

[Wandering Eyes]

The class act of the field, Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), gave Shadwell Stable a dream start to Super Saturday and booked his ticket for Dubai World Cup night when landing the G2 Dubai City Of Gold in a tight finish with Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).

Drawn widest of all in stall 14, the Owen Burrows-trained Hukum jumped well and gradually manoeuvred to a handy spot tucked away behind the leading pack which was headed by Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who set a steady pace just ahead of Island Brave (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}). As the tightly bunched field approached the turn for home, Crowley had Hukum travelling easily and stalking the front-runners as Global Storm (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) took up the running. The Godolphin leader was soon picked up in the straight as Hukum and Without A Fight tussled for the top spot. The latter lived to his name, battling all the way to the line but eventually having to settle for second best, just a head behind the winner. Global Storm stayed on to take third.

“We were using it as a prep run for World Cup night and I thought we got into a raceable position from where we were drawn,” said Crowley. “But the pace wasn't very strong so I had to make a move a little sooner on him but he stick on well. He's a high-class horse who has been winning Group 2s and Group 3s, and he deserves to take his place in another Group 1. I expect him to come forward for that.”

That next Group 1 challenge will be the Dubai Sheema Classic in three weeks' time for the consistent 5-year-old who has now eight of his 13 starts, including three Group 3 contests last season at Ascot, Newbury and York. His sole try to date at the top level was when finishing fifth, just over four lengths behind Galileo Chrome (Ire) in the G1 St Leger. 

Pedigree notes

A Shadwell homebred, Hukum is a full-brother to the unbeaten dual Group 1 winner Baaeed (Ire) and a half to the treble winner Kasbaan (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Their dam Aghareed (Kingmambo) was a Listed winner at Longchamp when trained for Sheikh Hamdan by John Hammond and was herself the first foal of the GI Breeders' Cup Fill & Mare Turf winner Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), a great grand-daughter of the celebrated Shadwell foundation mare Height Of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}).

After the 4-year-old Baaeed, Aghareed has the unraced 3-year-old filly Zaghaareed (GB) (Intello {Ger}), a Nathaniel (Ire) juvenile colt named Naqeeb (Ire), and a yearling colt by Night Of Thunder (Ire). She was barren last year to New Bay (GB).

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