Mustajeeb sprints to victory in Greenlands

Mustajeeb staked his claim for top sprinting honours this term after getting his campaign off to the best possible start in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh.

The Nayef colt raced exclusively over seven furlongs and a mile last season but Dermot Weld's charge showed the drop back to six furlongs was no problem in this Group 2 event.

Pat Smullen sent the four-year-old to the front inside the final furlong, and the 4/1 chance kept on well to score by a length. Maarek stayed on best in the closing stages to take the runner-up spot, with the always prominent Majestic Queen another half-length back in third. Sole Power was having his first outing on Irish soil for nearly four years but could only manage sixth, while the globe-trotting Gordon Lord Byron beat just one home in eighth and was later reported to have scoped dirty.

Ryan Moore also reported that Astaire hung right from halfway, and the 7/2 favourite finished fifth.

Weld said, "He won a competitive Jersey Stakes last year, and ran a good race in the Breeders Cup. I'm delighted for Sheikh Hamdan as he's bred this horse and he'll be an excellent stallion for Derrinstown. He's put up a great performance against four Group 1 winners in that race.

"The Diamond Jubilee is the logical follow on for him. He's been working very well, and I thought this was the obvious race to start him off in.

"He's a Group winner over a mile but Pat has always felt that he's so much pace. We wanted to give a shot over this distance and he's answered the call."

Smullen said, "I feel a bit vindicated as I've been saying for a long time that I feel this is a six-furlong horse. He's got so much pace and he could be a very good sprinter this year."

Mustajeeb is now 8/1 (from 20/1) with Paddy Power for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.

(GC & AM)