Mufarrh

Mufarrh was a mid-90s-rated three-year-old for John Dunlop last summer but has developed into a very useful horse in Dubai this Carnival and ran his best race out in the Emirate when a close second to Skysurfers in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile on World Cup night. Settled just off the leaders on the rail, he was keen through the early stages off a slow enough early pace, but travelled well into the straight. Skysurfers found the perfect split between horses towards the outside and was able to carry his momentum smoothly as he ranged up to the front runners. Mufarrh on the other hand had to wait a split second for the gap to fully open in front of him and lost that little bit of impetus, but he picked up impressively when in the clear and the pair of them soon pulled three lengths clear. Mufarrh made Skysurfers work hard for this win, the favourite eventually prevailing by half a length with over three lengths back to Red Jazz and Premio Loco, both decent performers at this level.

Considering the way he pulled through the first half of the race, this rates a very good effort from Mufarrh. Skysurfers is very good on this Tapeta surface, this was his third win from five starts on it, and he had finished a good third in this race last year. This was Mufarrh’s best effort yet by some way on Racing Post Ratings, indeed he has improved every time he has run in Dubai: he hasn't run a bad race since a warm up run in Abu Dhabi. He has won two handicaps, the first over a mile off a mark of 94 and the second over 10 furlongs off 102, comfortably so. As is the norm through the Carnival, he has been kept busy, finishing seventh to Twice Over in Round 3 of the Maktoum Challenge over 10 furlongs on his run before this.

Given the way he ran here, keen early on and able to produce a serious turn of foot in the straight, it does seem as though the Marju gelding may prove best at a mile, although he obviously does get 10 furlongs well. It would also be interesting to see him in a fast-run 10-furlong contest. He handles this Tapeta surface really well so good to firm ground should suit him be back on turf.

26th March 2011

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