Flying Spur colt in classic contention

Weekend racing in South Africa produced a candidate for the classics by champion Arrowfield sire Flying Spur .

Pictured: Handsome is and handsome does…champion sire Flying Spur at Arrowfield Stud. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

His 3YO son Mushreq stood up to be counted with a seven-length victory over 1800 metres at Vaal on Saturday.

His trainer Mike de Kock said, “I’m very happy with Mushreq’s preparation. He’s a Derby-type horse and will be kicking in when others are getting tired.”

Mushreq, a Sheikh Hamdan-homebred from Alharir by Jeune, won on debut and at his third start contested the Greyville Golden Horseshoe G1 in July. He led until collared two strides from the post by Fighting Warrior.

The Australian-bred colt finished his first preparation in the Premier’s Champion Stakes 1600m G1, but didn’t enjoy the heavy track. Mushreq returned for two pipe-openers over a mile last month before outclassing his rivals on Saturday. De Kock had originally planned to send him to Dubai but quarantine issues kept him at home.

Mushreq’s three-time winning dam Alharir is a half-sister to the dam of Sheikh Hamdan’s MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes G1 winner Rewaaya. This is the stunning Easy Date family, already very much part of Arrowfield history, thanks to leading sire & broodmare sire Snippets, Golden Slipper winner Forensics & Not A Single Doubt .

The Arrowfield draft at the 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale includes two colts from mares that are closely related to Mushreq: Lot 624, by Starcraft from First Date, and Lot 635, by Hussonet from Flying Single. The draft also includes three colts & three fillies by Flying Spur.

Flying Spur is already the sire of four Australian stakeswinners this season, and Caulfield trainer Mick Price produced his 44th individual winner since 1 August when promising filly Kitty Cotswold trounced a maiden field by six lengths on Sunday.