Muhtarram

Muhtarram
Racing silks of Hamdan Al Maktoum
Sire	Alleged
Grandsire	Hoist the Flag
Dam	Ballet de France
Damsire	Northern Dancer
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	22 February 1989
Country	United States
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Cotswold Farm 1985 Ltd
Owner	Hamdan Al Maktoum
Trainer	John Gosden
Record	20: 8-3-2
Earnings	£562,031
Major wins
Irish Champion Stakes (1993) Premio Presidente della Repubblica (1994) Prince of Wales's Stakes (1994, 1995)

Muhtarram is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred race horse. He won the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot twice, in addition to the Irish Champion Stakes and the Premio Presidente della Repubblica in Italy.

Background

Muhtarram was a bay horse bred in the United States by Cotswold Farm 1985 Ltd. He was sired by the dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Alleged. He was trained throughout his racing career by John Gosden and was ridden in all but one of his races by Willie Carson.

Racing career

As a two-year-old in 1991, Muhtarram won both of his races, winning a maiden race at Leicester Racecourse in July and the Pytchley Stakes at the same course in October.^[1]

In the following year, Muhtarram ran three times. He finished fourth behind Alnasr Alwasheek in the Craven Stakes, fifth behind Rodrigo de Triano in the 2000 Guineas and fourth behind Dr Devious in the Epsom Derby.^[2]

Muhtarram did not race again until August 1993 when he won a minor stakes race at Sandown and followed up by winning the Listed Strensall Stakes at Doncaster on 2 September. Nine days after his win at Doncaster, Muhtarram was moved up in class to contest the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. Ridden by the veteran Willie Carson he took the lead inside the final furlong and won by half a length from the favourite Opera House.^[3] On his final appearance of the season he finished seventh behind Hatoof in the Champion Stakes.

As a five-year-old, Muhtarram began his season by travelling to Italy, where he won the Premio Presidente della Repubblica in Rome on 15 May.^[4] Ten days later in Paris he was beaten a neck by Bigstone in the Prix d'Ispahan. He returned to England in June for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot where he defeated Ezzoud by a neck.^[5] Muhtarram did not win again in 1994, but ran consistently well in major middle-distance races: he finished second in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, second in the International Stakes, third in the Arlington Million, fourth in the Irish Champion Stakes and third in the Champion Stakes.

Muhtarram remained in training as a six-year-old and ran three times. After finishing fifth in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May he returned to Royal Ascot in June for the Prince of Wales's Stakes. He won the race for the second time, defeating Eltish by a short-head with the odds-on favourite Balanchine in fifth place.^[6] On his final appearance, Muhtarram finished sixth behind Halling in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

Stud career

Muhtarram was retired to stud at the end of 1995. He has had limited success as a sire of winners. His best winners have been the Henry II Stakes winner Fight Your Corner, and the Meld Stakes winner Muakaad.^[7]

Pedigree

References