Hukum Denies Desert Crown In Barnstorming Brigadier Gerard

[Wandering Eyes]

Thursday's G3 Brigadier Gerard S. was one for the comeback kids, but not the one most expected as Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Aghareed, by Kingmambo) overhauled Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) fair and square up the Sandown hill. As last year's Derby hero loomed large on the front end under Richard Kingscote two out, Jim Crowley was in a pocket on the Shadwell homebred who had over a length to make up as he gave pursuit a furlong later. While the 2-5 favourite Desert Crown put a healthy margin into the remainder on the climb to the line, the 5-1 second favourite was grabbing the ground to make up the deficit and reel him in late to prevail by half a length.

Coming off a day-longer absence and more serious injury than Desert Crown here, having been on the brink of retirement following his emphatic G1 Coronation Cup victory last June, the Owen Burrows-trained 6-year-old seems to have taken a leaf out of his brother Baaeed's book if this dynamic display was anything to come by. While Crowley was surprised by the manner in which Hukum has reinvented himself during his convalescence and rebuild, he admitted that the trainer had issued a warning of what was to come. “He'd been training well and Owen had said it was the best he'd ever known him,” he said. “He's almost got quicker. The ground was beautiful tonight and it was a very good performance in my opinion–when things are in his favour he's top drawer. Owen's done well to get him back–he's done an amazing job with him.”

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