£1.5 Million Reasons to be Cheerful
Thu 10 Aug 2023
WINNER 72 OF 2023: MOTAWAAFEQ, trained by Mick Appleby and ridden by Andrew Mullen: The 'Riu Hotels and Resorts Ladies Day Veterans' Handicap' over 1m at Pontefract.
Winning last time out at Kempton, this was his first start on turf, for over 2 years!
Breaking well from stall 4, he was soon at the head of the field. Pushed along to increase the tempo 2f out, he faced a challenge coming to the final furlong, but kept on well, to win gamely by 1/2 a length.
Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/results/uk/458128-pontefract/09-Aug-2023/1620
Andrew said in his Racing TV interview: "He's quite easy to ride, he jumps forward and I managed to get a breather when I wanted. He picked up again, digging deep, to the line."
Timeform rated it as a 77 performance, saying: "Having a rare start on turf, became the second next-time-out winner to emerge from Kempton race as he followed up in gutsy fashion; well drawn, led, ridden entering straight, tackled 1f out, dug deep under pressure."
Syndicate manager Tim says: "That was very thrilling. I thought Midge (Andrew) got it spot on and he just wasn't for catching. Motawaafeq is ever so tenacious under pressure and when he is nice and fresh. Well done to his owners - there aren't many horses who win 8 races, so he has been a grand servant.
His earnings of £6,280 took us over £1.5million of prize money won for the year, so far, so a double celebration!"
We have added some shares in Motawaafeq, which you can see here: http://www.middlehamparkracing.net/horses/view,motawaafeq_323.htm