The Denis Hogan trained Hathiq didn’t run up to expectations in the fastest five furlongs in the world on Derby day at Epsom.
He finished 17th place nevertheless this exciting sprinter lost nothing in defeat.
Hathiq, who is a half-brother to smart performers such as Massaat and Eqtidaar, was acquired by James McAuley for just £3,000 back in January Goff’s. He has already earned three times that amount in prize-money. The five-year-old was well punted for the outrageously competitive sprint, from being 9/1 mid-week that price collapsed to being a much shorter 7/2 shot prior to the off though the writing was on the wall from a long way from home that he was never within his comfort zone.
He jumped out from a favourable stall draw of 18 alertly enough just getting to some extent tapped for toe from the more seasoned handicappers.
Trainer and pundit Johnny Murtagh came out with a great line on Itv racing, he insisted “There is a massive difference in Irish and English Sprints and that winning a race in Ireland doesn’t mean you will run well in England”.
That really was the case as Hathiq didn’t show his usual enthusiasm, possibly the travelling over there or having two races quick succession took a bit of the spring in his step, either way I be very confident in asserting this well-bred horse will bounce back to form and if anything the experience he attained at Epsom yesterday could stand him in good stead.
Jockey on-board Rory Cleary astutely didn’t give him a hard time when beaten, so the extortions of this race will have no lasting effects for the remainder of the season. This is not the end, its just the start of the adventure for Hathiq and the McAuley’s with their bargain buy, who has already paid his way.
