Tuesday 20th June 2006
MUJAHID to stand at Eliza Park in 2006
Exciting news for Victorian breeders - Eliza Park this week announcing the return to Australia of the fine young stallion MUJAHID (Danzig - Elrafa Ah by Storm Cat). Standing only two seasons at Widden Stud in 2001/2002, MUJAHID - despite an excellent race record and a high class pedigree - did not receive the best of support and he returned to the UK after producing just 81 named foals.But what a job MUJAHID has done with that limited representation!
To date 39 of his Australian bred progeny have raced - 21 being winners, 11 as two-year-olds. Leading the way has been the classy Danleigh who just a couple of weeks ago finished all over the top of his rivals (including the in form Gold Edition) in the Queensland Sires' Produce Stakes-Gr.2.Backing up nine days later Danleigh - conceding no less than 3kg - was a game second to the highly rated up and comer Reigning To Win in the rich T.J Smith Quality-Gr.1. meanwhile over in Perth and the filly Paris Petard has deservedly been in the spotlight - that Fred Kersley trained juvenile beaten only once in her seven start career. Easily the state's best two-year-old, she was last seen in the WA Sires' Produce Stakes-Gr.3 in late April - winning that competitive event in easy style.
Down to Victoria where successful Wangaratta based trainer John Ledger rates three-year-old Mind Your Head "the best I have trained." No mean feat, Ledger preparing to Group victories the likes of Brave Chief and Blaze The Turf. He is confident that the best lies ahead for Mind Your Head, a horse who has already won three of his eight starts - earning black type at his most recent outing when a fresh third in the Creswick Stakes-LR at Flemington.Ledger thinks the last start winner Kim Regret is pretty good too and plenty other of the MUJAHID breed have been showing potential - the likes of Lujacool, Calaluna, Besoraa, Hidden Magic, Artorius, Palmyra Boy, Red Cord, Noise Barrage, Search 'N' Seek and Allisee all lightly raced and promising winners.
Meanwhile overseas - where MUJAHID calls Shadwell his northern hemisphere home, the ten-year-old has also been performing admirably despite limited early opportunities - his daughters Musa Golosa and Lamargue Listed winners on the continent.
In Europe, like here, the MUJAHID breed mature fast and early - his latest crop producing ten individual two-year-old winners, his previous crop 17 winners and in the previous year 11 which makes him the perfect Super Vobis stallion - and Eliza Park his perfect southern hemisphere base.
"He is a stallion who is going to complement our line up very nicely," said the stud's Shane McGrath - adding that the 16hh bay is an excellent example of the Danzig breed. A strong, muscular stallion
with a definite look of Northern Dancer (to whom he is line-bred 2mx4m), MUJAHID was a high class juvenile who won three of his first four starts.
Kicking off with a Newmarket success over six furlongs (1200m), he was described by the esteemed Racing Post publication as "the pick of the paddock - a lovely, well-made colt with a strong back end."
Striking trouble during the running, MUJAHID showed great will to win to salute. "he had to squeeze through to make his challenge. and he quickened up nicely."
Even more professional at his second start at Salisbury, MUJAHID was sent out an odds on favourite and he proved six lengths too classy for his rivals. "The winner cruised home in effortless style," said the
Racing Post - the John Dunlop stable adding that "he is very very laid back at home," and jockey Richard Hills saying that "he had a very good turn of foot."
Stepping up to Gr.2 company at his next outing - the Gimcrack Stakes at York - Mujahid had little luck but still managed a game fifth and still drew glowing reports.
"He could hardly have impressed more in the paddock - he's a really muscular colt with a relaxed demeanour."
From there to one of England's most esteemed juvenile events - the Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. Taking on the likes of Stravinsky, Auction House, Lujain and Indian Danehill, MUJAHID showed great strength of spirit - winning by two lengths; earning the title of English Champion 2Y0.
Described by his owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum as "a nice strong horse with a very good temperament," Mujahid raced on at three - boxing on gamely for a 2000 Guineas-Gr.1 third and a close up French 2000 Guineas-Gr.1 fifth.
His form - that wonderful mixture of early juvenile speed and solid Classic form - gives him all the attributes required for stud success in Australia and is thus little wonder that MUJAHID has made the most encouraging of starts.
And he has pedigree too - MUJAHID a son of that prolific sire of sires in Danzig (whose line is particularly prominent in Australia) and the dual Listed winning Storm Cat mare Elrafa Ah. This is a family that has been producing high class performers for generations and it has already enjoyed success in Australia - the leading sire Bluebird one of its best members.
Due to stand at $7,700 (including gst, LFG), MUJAHID - as one of the few proven sons of Danzig - is bound to prove extremely popular with Victorian breeders.
