Mull Of Killough

Mull Of Killough was a seemingly exposed 94-rated horse when he joined Jane Chappple-Hyam in January 2012, but he hasn’t stopped progressing for his new trainer and his most recent run, when beaten just a length by Aljamaaheer in the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot, was as good as any of his previous runs.

His performance was probably a fair bit better than the bare form of the race, as he was drawn out wide on the round mile at Ascot. George Baker, who had ridden him in his three previous starts, was riding Premio Loco for Chris Wall, and so William Buick was riding Mull Of Killough for the first time. He was three wide throughout, wider than all of his rivals, and had no cover the whole way, in contrast to the eventual first, third and fourth who were all held up behind horses and who were all well settled as a result. Mull Of Killough wasn’t keen but it wasn’t ideal that he was out wide throughout.

He was pushed along in sixth place around the home turn, and he didn’t really look to be going anywhere, but he kept finding for pressure and he surged to the front just over a furlong out. He withstand the late run of the more patiently-ridden and very well-backed Aljamaaheer, but he kept on well for second ahead of the improving pair Guest Of Honour and Trade Storm, and the front four were nicely clear. The race was run in a really good time, 1.49 seconds faster than standard and just 0.19 seconds off the track record for the old mile at Ascot.

The winner, Aljamaaheer, is a Group 1 horse these days, he has been placed in both the Lockinge and the Queen Anne this season and he was entitled to win this dropping down in grade. That said, Mull Of Killough has now proven that he is a genuine Group 2 horse and he deserves his place in races like this. Also, this was his first run since he finished fifth in the Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji in May, so he should come on at least a little for it. He should be better back up at nine or 10 furlongs too. He goes so well at Newmarket, his record at both Newmarket tracks combined reads 512111 with the 2 coming in last year’s Cambridgeshire off a mark of 100. He will be of particular interest whenever he returns to Newmarket, which will surely be soon.

13th July 2013