Tales from the Crib: Haikal

Apr 27, 2019 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

A homebred descended from one of Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum’s luminaries, Haikal hopes to give his globally prominent Shadwell operation a first Kentucky Derby (G1) trophy.

Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikh Mohammed’s brother, has won the original Derby (G1) – the one at Epsom – twice, along with a host of coveted prizes from Europe to Australia, South Africa, Dubai, and the United States.

His American triumphs include three Breeders’ Cup races, chief among them the 2006 Classic (G1) with Horse of the Year Invasor, and the same year’s Belmont S. (G1) with Jazil, who had dead-heated for fourth to Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby. Ten years would elapse before Shadwell was represented in the Derby again, when Mohaymen was likewise fourth and Shagaf was pulled up.

The list of Shadwell’s European stars is longer, from all-time greats Nashwan and Salsabil to more recent celebrities like Taghrooda and Muhaarar. Also on that honor roll is Shadayid, the champion two-year-old filly in England and France who swept her first five starts. The homebred gray achieved classic glory in the 1000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket in 1991:

Shadayid went on to place in five Group 1s, including the Oaks (G1) at Epsom, Coronation (G1) at Royal Ascot, and the Queen Elizabeth II (G1). As a broodmare, she produced three stakes winners, most notably the Group 1-placed Bint Shadayid and Imtiyaz.

Tragically, Shadayid died after the birth of a filly in 2002. That last daughter, named Teeba, was sent to the same British trainer, the late John Dunlop. From only four starts, she won once and placed in a pair of stakes, and did her part to continue the line by foaling not only Group 2-placed stakes scorer Ghaamer, but significantly a couple of stakes-producing daughters.

Her unraced filly by Distorted Humor, Sablah, is already the dam of two graded winners – Takaful and Haikal. Takaful tried the Derby trail but found his true home sprinting, and beat older horses in the 2017 Vosburgh (G1). Sadly the son of Bernardini succumbed after undergoing surgery early last year, according to Daily Racing Form.

Haikal was sired by fellow Shadwell colorbearer Daaher, who scored his signature win in the 2007 Cigar Mile (G1). A son of Awesome Again, Daaher is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 victress Spun Sugar.

Born March 23, 2016, at Shadwell’s farm in the Bluegrass, Haikal wasted no time in getting on with life. Word from the farm is that he stood quickly, and within a few hours, he was running around his paddock.

Yet the bay colt wasn’t gregarious as a yearling – on the contrary, you might call him an introvert. Quiet and keeping to his own company, he took some time to come out of his shell. Or as his groom put it, he was “very mature for his age, an old soul.”

Sheikh Hamdan, who gives his horses classical Arabic names, chose one that suited such a colt. Haikal means “boundary.”

That temperament is already helping him handle the Derby trail far better than half-brother Takaful did. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, who’s managed both as well as Haikal’s sire Daaher, has explained why: it was the mental side of the game that kept Takaful from staying as far as his pedigree suggested. His inability to relax made it hard on him. In contrast, the placid Haikal conserves his energy and deploys it efficiently over a distance.

Starting out in sprints at Aqueduct, Haikal flew late to miss by a neck on debut, then got up in time by the same margin next out. He stepped up to stakes company in the February 9 Jimmy Winkfield, where he didn’t have much room to rally on the rail, but unflinchingly squeezed through to prevail.

Haikal had a lot more room to maneuver in the Gotham (G3), rolling from far off the hot pace to win going away by a length. Stretching out to two turns in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G2), he again saved his best for late, but Tacitus and Tax were already clear, and Haikal had to settle for third.

As Haikal gears up for the Derby, Sheikh Hamdan has two other classic contenders eyeing the first Saturday in May across the Atlantic. His homebred Madhmoon is a prime player in the 2000 Guineas (G1) at Newmarket, the first British classic of the season, and auction purchase Mohaather put himself into the picture by capturing a Guineas trial. Further afield in South Africa, Sheikh Hamdan has a few early entries penciled in for major races at Turffontein on May 4.

The Shadwell team hopes that Haikal’s low-key demeanor and maturity will help him to bring home the roses on what could be a banner day across the globe.