Botti: “Moohaajim is improving”

Thursday 11 October 2012

By Ashley Wishaw

Marco Botti has revealed that Moohaajim has begun to grow up as the colt builds towards his run in the Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Moohaajim won the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury last month but since then has begun to mature and is on the upward curve.

The son of Cape Cross is expected to line up against unbeaten colts Reckless Abandon and Blaine in the Group One contest, run over six furlongs, and is a best-priced 3-1 to register his maiden victory at the top level.

“He is a medium-sized colt, nice and compact but in the last three weeks he has started growing. It suggests he’ll train on next year and is definitely improving,” Botti told RacingUK.

Moohaajim’s pedigree indicates that seven furlongs could be within his compass this season, as a mile would be in time for next season’s 2,000 Guineas. He is out of a Kingmambo mare.

Botti chose the Middle Park in preference to the Dewhurst Stakes, run over a furlong further on the same card, and maintains he has made the right decision.

“We made a sensible decision to run him in the Middle Park," Botti added. "He has won over six furlongs and Newmarket is a stiff six furlongs. It is the sensible decision to stay at six furlongs and not to have to run up against Dawn Approach over seven.

"I can't see why he won't stay seven furlongs next year and don't see why her won't stay a mile as he is bred for it."

Moohaajim is a best-priced 3-1 for the Middle Park Stakes with Bet365 and can be backed at 25-1 with Ladbrokes.