Hoo Ya Mal continues on path towards Melbourne Cup
Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) runner-up Hoo Ya Mal (Territories) came through the next step on his path to what connections hope will end with a tilt at this season’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) when taking the rise in trip firmly in his stride to land yesterday’s March Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 6f) at Goodwood.
While there were few worries for the colt, who Gai Waterhouse went to £1.2 million to purchase on the eve of Royal Ascot during the race, there was more than a moment of concern after he had crossed the line a comfortable two and a half lengths in front of Perfect Alibi (Le Havre).
William Buick walked his mount into the winner’s enclosure having expressed concerns he may have finished lame after the race but it transpired he had not suffered an injury and had simply pulled off a shoe.
Explaining the situation, Hoo Ya Mal’s trainer George Boughey, said: “He has just overreached coming up past the line and it is pretty tacky ground out there. He has just pulled a shoe off and the other one seems to be hanging off but he is fine. He is in good shape.
“He was stepping up to 14 furlongs for the first time which slightly defies his pedigree and William said to me ‘he is a horse that doesn’t feel like he will stay and then he does stay.’
“He has got the class edge and on ratings he was expected to win. He didn’t do a huge amount today. I just wanted to see him relax and hit the line. It was softer ground and a trip he hadn’t run over before and William was delighted.”
Hoo Ya Mal (3 c Territories – Sensationally by Montjeu) was bought by a syndicate led by Sir Owen Glen following his second at Epsom with a switch to Waterhouse and training partner Adrian Bott for Flemington in November the plan.
However, he could go to Doncaster for next month’s St Leger (Gr 1, 1m 6.5f) before heading down under.
“We will let the dust settle and I will speak to Gai and Adrian when they watch the race. They are in charge”, Boughey said.
“He is a pleasure to have at home. I am looking forward to sending him down there and hopefully they have a really fun horse.”
Hoo Ya Mal, who now has two wins and six places to his name, is the sixth foal out of the Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells) mare Sensationally, herself a half-sister to US Grade 2 winner Sun Boat (Machiavellian) out of the Group 1 winner One So Wonderful (Nashwan).
He became the fifth individual stakes winner for Darley’s Territories who stood the 2022 northern hemisphere breeding season at Dalham Hall Stud for a fee of £10,000 (approx, AU$17,050).