The consistent Morawij (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), a regular winner at Jebel Ali, sprang a surprise when claiming his first Meydan prize and the biggest win of his career to date in the G3 Mahaab Al Shimaal.
The 7-year-old was sharp away from the gates and quickly to the head of proceedings to dominate the six-furlong contest, but he had to dig deep in the closing stages to hold off his closest pursuer Dundonnell (First Defence), who was just beaten for second on the line by the fast-finishing second-favourite Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy).
Morawij may have been somewhat overlooked ahead of the race but he does boast good form over course and distance, having finished third to Muarrab (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in last year's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on World Cup night, and he will now be aimed at that race again. He has also been in good form of late and came into Mahaab Al Shimaal off a Listed win at Jebel Ali on Feb. 17, having been beaten just a nose for second at the same track a month earlier.
“Any horse that can go up the hill at Jebel Ali is a fair horse, people knocked him after last run in the Jebel Ali Sprint but he'd had an interrupted preparation and it was a brilliant training performance to get him there,” said jockey Chris Hayes, who has been aboard Morawij for each of his four starts this season.
“He wears his heart on the sleeve and is ferocious out of the gate. It's going to be a long three weeks but hopefully he stays healthy. If he gets a good draw in the Golden Shaheen, he'll be bang there.”
Pedigree notes
Bred in Newmarket by the Wyatt family's Dunchurch Lodge Stud Co., Morawij was the fourth and final foal of the late Piccolo (GB) mare Sister Moonshine (Fr), a dual sprint winner who was third in the G3 Prix des Bois at Deauville as a juvenile. The mare's only other winner is Starfield (GB) (Marju {Ire}), a four-time winner over a mile.
Sister Moonshine was the first foal of the Double Bed (Fr) mare Cootamundra (Fr), who subsequently produced Longchamp Listed winner Mundybash (GB) (Diktat {GB}).
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