Musir wins rich feature in Istanbul

Musir wins rich feature in Istanbul

Australian-bred Musir has scored an easy win in Sunday’s $A600,000 International Tokpapi Trophy, the 1600-metre Group 2 feature of the Istanbul Festival of Racing in Turkey.

Pictured: Musir photographed at trackwork in Dubai, March 2011. (PHOTO: Katrina Partridge)

The 5YO son of champion sire Redoute’s Choice and stakes-placed 2YO Dizzy de Lago (by Encosta de Lago) travelled comfortably in the middle of the field and swept to the lead at the top of the straight to win by 3.5 lengths, and justify his hot favouritism with British bookmakers.

Trained by Mike de Kock for owner and breeder Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum, Musir has compiled a remarkable international record of six wins, five placings and more than $1.8 million from 12 starts in five countries.

After winning the Greyville Golden Horseshoe G1 in South Africa as a 2YO, Musir was sent to Dubai where he won the UAE 2000 Guineas G3 and UAE Derby G2. Eleven months later he returned to place at Group 2 and Listed Stakes level in Dubai, before a seventh in the Dubai World Cup G1, a third placing in the HKJC Champions Mile G1 and a trip to England where he finished third in last month’s Newbury Hungerford S. G3.

Musir was named South Africa’s champion 2YO colt in 2009, and the champion UAE 3YO miler of 2010. From the family of champion Japanese sire King Kamehameha, he is bred on the Redoute’s Choice/Encosta de Lago cross which has also produced high-class 2YO Group 1 performer Beneteau and Listed Stakeswinner Essington from only 15 named foals. Dizzy de Lago is due to foal again to Redoute’s Choice later this month.

Musir is the second Group winner for Redoute’s Choice this season after King’s Rose, impressive winner of the MRC Memsie S. G2 on 27 August.