By Alan Carasso
The third highest-priced lot at the 2016 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale on a bid of A$1.75 million from Shadwell Australasia, Mustaaqeem (Aus) (c, 2, Redoute's Choice {Aus}) entered his career debut Saturday at Turffontein with lofty expectations and the weight of the betting public who pounded him down to 4-5 favoritism. Drawn wide, Mustaaqeem looked to dip slightly at the break and settled in midfield while switching his leads a couple of times. Callan Murray called upon his mount with about 400m to race, and the response was instant, as Mustaaqeem opened up at will to score by 7 1/2 lengths in fast time. The winner is a full-brother to fellow Shadwell colourbearer Rafeef (Aus), himself an A$800,000 Easter graduate in 2014 and most recently victorious as the favorite in the G2 Hawaii S. at Turffontein, with Murray at the controls. Arrowfield Stud consigns the siblings' Snitzel (Aus) half-sister as lot 256 to session two of the upcoming Easter sale Apr. 5. National Colour, South Africa's champion 3-year-old filly and Horse of the Year in 2006, produced a full-brother to Rafeef and Mustaaqeem in 2016 and was most recently covered by Redoute's Choice Nov. 2.
+Mustaaqeem (Aus), c, 2, Redoute's Choice (Aus)–National Colour (SAf) (Horse of the Year, Ch. 3yo Filly-SAf, Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 5-6.5f, MG1SW-SAf, G1SP-Eng, $296,559), by National Assembly. Turffontein, 3-25, Maiden Juvenile Plate, 1160mT, 1:07.42. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum; B-Arrowfield Stud Pty Ltd & Klawervlei Stud (NSW); T-Michael F DeKock.
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