'I hope we haven't seen the best of him' - Hills sweet on returning Mutasaabeq

Saturday: Thirsk

Mutasaabeq, who this time last year was emerging as a dark horse for the 2,000 Guineas, got his four-year-old career off to a perfect start when he landed the conditions stakes for Shadwell and Charlie Hills.

Ridden by Jim Crowley, Mutasaabeq was not disgraced in the Newmarket Classic, finishing seventh, but had been off since August.

Hills was keen to get a run into the classy colt and was thrilled with his effort.

"I had what was the Leicestershire Stakes in mind, but that wasn't for a few weeks and he was in great form, so we thought he'd be better off having a run rather than waiting until then," he said.

"He's done really well from three to four and I think we did the right thing giving him time off at the end of last season.

"This time last year he won well at Newmarket, but then he was thrown in at the deep end in the Guineas and it never really worked. We thought we'd start him off lower this year and work our way up to that level again.

"I think seven furlongs and a mile is his trip and he'll probably go for that Listed race at Leicester next."

Mutasaabeq is an Invincible Spirit homebred out of Ghanaati, who won the 1,000 Guineas in 2009 for Hills's father Barry.

"I hope we haven't seen the best of him," the trainer added. "He's a lovely looking horse and his attitude has been fantastic this year and today because he could be a bit stressy last year."

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