Mukhadram Camp Eye York Success

Connections of Mukhadram are optimistic that their high-class horse can return to winning ways today (Saturday 27th July 2013) when he contests York’s feature event, the £100,000 Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes.

The William Haggas-trained four-year-old, who carries the colours of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, has established himself as one of the leading middle-distance performers of the season.

He landed the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on his seasonal bow before finding only Al Kazeem too good in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The son of Shamardal then looked set to fill the same position behind Al Kazeem in the Coral Eclipse Stakes but suffered interference inside the final furlong and ended up finishing second.

Today's assignment could act as a stepping stone to the Juddmonte International Stakes, run over the same distance of an extended mile and a quarter at York’s Ebor Festival (Wednesday 21 August ), which has been earmarked as a possible target for Mukhadram.

Richard Hills, assistant racing manager to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: “He came out of the Eclipse in great shape and worked very well on Sunday morning. William (Haggas) is very happy with him and this looks an ideal stepping stone to the Juddmonte International.

“He loves fast ground, the track should suit and he comes in to the race on the back of three super runs. There’s a lot in his favour and he deserves to get his head in front again.”

Mukhadram faces a small but select field of five. His rivals include last year’s winner Sri Putra, Grade 1 winner Wigmore Hall and The Apache.

The former was last seen on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan when he ran a career best to be second in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free.

The seven-race card also features the £50,000 Sky Bet Dash, a handicap run over six furlongs. The current favourite with the sponsors is the Hugo Palmer-trained Khubala who was last seen finishing fourth in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Palmer said: “His last two runs have been career bests and based on that he would have a very good chance.

“He has seemed in good form at home, he thrives on everything he does and I am very happy with him.

“Ideally he is best suited by ground with a bit of give in it, so any rain would be a bonus.”

Today's seven-race card gets underway at 1.50pm.

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