'Unbelievable' Al Aasy lands Group 3 as a nine-year-old and has connections dreaming of another season

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There have been some magnificent sights at Ascot this season, but watching Al Aasy sweep through to challenge in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes was wonderful to behold.

Nine years old, shouldering a 5lb penalty and parked at the back of the field, Al Aasy had more than enough against him to be excused if unable to claim victory. And yet, few horses can look so effortlessly classy as he does when ridden with confidence and prepped to perfection. As the speed increased in the entrance to the home straight, Al Aasy went from nowhere to challenging in a manner that was beautiful to observe.

The finish was a tight one, with Al Aasy getting involved in a scrap with stablemate Tenability and Royal Playwright, but he had enough in reserve to prevail by a neck.

“He’s unbelievable,” said Richard Hills, assistant racing manager for Shadwell Estate. “He’s won a Listed race, a Group 2 and now a Group 3 as a nine-year-old. We were a bit worried about the ground for him today, but William [Haggas] and the team have done the most fantastic job.”

Haggas, his wife Maureen and the rest of the yard, which may gain its greatest triumph on Sunday with Maltese Cross in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, have form with redoubtable older horses, with the likes of Harris Tweed and Hamish. As such, it would be no surprise if Al Aasy came back to try to add to his 14 wins next year as a ten-year-old. Hills certainly sees it that way, and was generous in his praise of Haggas and his team.

“It’s patience, that’s key,” Hills said. “You have to know your horse and know when he’s in the right condition. That means pulling up when it’s the right thing to do but also pushing on when it’s right as well, and he’s been managed perfectly by William and everyone.

“He still has that enthusiasm and hopefully he’ll keep going. I have this conversation [about continuing] with Angus [Gold, Shadwell’s racing manager] every year, and every year Al Aasy’s back in training for the next year, so hopefully he’ll be able to go for another season.”

Air Force One (yellow cap) pips Regional in the Listed Rous StakesCredit: Getty Images

Bond walking on air

Pumped up would be the best way to describe owner Charlie Bond after Air Force One pipped Regional by a short head in the Listed Rous Stakes.

Winner of the Portland Stakes at Doncaster last month, as well as a handicap at York's Ebor festival, Air Force One was dropped exquisitely on the line by jockey PJ McDonald to pip the front-running Regional.

“We knew he’d keep finding, and when he gets into a battle more often than not he comes out on top,” said Bond. 

“PJ was determined not to go too early on him and come with one strong run at the finish, which is exactly what he did.”

Bond said Air Force One’s improvement was down to the sympathetic training style of Geoff Oldroyd, who “doesn’t push his horses, he lets them come along and they keep improving as a result”. 

An outing at Royal Ascot next year is top of the agenda for the owner, but more immediately, Bond has two runners in action at Longchamp on Sunday with Big Money Man lining up in the Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Marvelman contesting the Group 1 Qatar Prix de la Foret.

Bond said: “The Group 1 Big Money Man is in what looks about the toughest race you could possibly have – it’s very competitive. We’ll see how he gets on, but he’s come forward since his run in Canada. As for Marvelman, if he can reproduce his run at York then he’s going there with a real chance.”

Plans come together for Mezcala

Asked to summarise what had contributed to Mezcala landing three major handicaps through the season, trainer Jack Channon said: “Planning – that’s what it takes.”

Mezcala won the Spring Mile on the opening day of the Flat turf season at Doncaster, bettered that when landing the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and finished his year with his most valuable success in the Challenge Cup.

“He started the season off a good mark, but after he won at Doncaster we could’ve gone to win another couple of races, but John and Julia [Aisbitt, owners] had the confidence in me to wait for Ascot,” Channon said. 

“He’s improving all the time and he’s a stakes horse for next season in this seven-furlong division. He’s a really nice horse.”

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