There were two important sprint races run overnight in the UK and Ireland and both had key runners with strong Australian interest in Zoustar mare Mgheera and the former Waterhouse Bott trained colt Storm Boy.
Mgheera made it two wins on the trot in the Group II Temple Stakes (5f) at Haydock for her owners Lord Lloyd Webber and Arthur Mitchell of Yarraman Park, while Storm Boy failed to flatter and finished unplaced in the Group II Greenlands Stakes (6f) at The Curragh.
A five year-old Northern Hemisphere bred daughter of Zoustar, Mgheera made €145,000 when offered at the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale and raced initially for Al Shaqab Racing placing in two of her first three starts before being sold again at the 2023 Arqana Summer Mixed Sale.
After winning a Listed race last year she went back to the sales and was purchased by McKeever Bloodstock / William Johnson for €250,000 at the Arqana December Racing and Breeding Stock Sale and was then transferred to her current trainer Ed Walker.
Mgheera won the the Group III Prix de Saint-Georges (1000m) at Longchamp for her new connections and then looked good again winning Temple Stakes by half a length for William Buick and it’s now full steam ahead for Royal Ascot for the Group I King Charles Stakes (5f).
“Mgheera is a good sprinter and it's very exciting. We've got plenty of work into her, but she's always slowly away and that certainly wouldn't be a problem at Ascot,” said Ed Walker.
“It should really suit her, especially that stiff five furlongs from being held up. There's a chance she might ship down to Australia after Ascot but we will have to persuade the owners to stay a bit longer as she would have a real chance in a Nunthorpe.”
Mgheera has the overall record of six wins from 20 starts with four Group and Listed placings and is the best of two winners from Blue Aegean, a winning half-sister by Invincible Spirit to Group III winner Distinctive.
The Group II Greenlands Stakes marked the Northern Hemisphere debut for Storm Boy, who is now in the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Ridden by Ryan Moore , the son of Justify started favourite, but faded sharply over the final furlong to drop out of contention with victory going to the long shot James’s Delight, a four year-old gelding by Invincible Army.
Trained by Clive Cox and was ridden by Oisin Muphy, the winner is also headed to Royal Ascot next month.
