Weld and Smullen take the Jersey Mustajeeb led home a one-two for owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. The Dermot Weld-trained colt finished third to Kingman in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and was always in the front rank in this seven-furlong contest, which represented quite a drop in class. Initially the field spilt into two groups, but they soon came together as That Is The Spirit took them to the two-furlong pole. Pat Smullen had tracked the leader for much of the journey and went on from there, closely attended by Paul Hanagan on Muwaary, who had also raced handily. The two 9-2 joint-favourites had it to themselves through the final furlong, with Mustajeeb holding the upper hand and prevailing by a length. Giovanni Boldini was another two and a quarter lengths back in third. Smullen said: "I couldn't believe how well it worked for us. There wasn't a great deal of pace early and I just got him to get on the bridle and travel. Once I was there (in front) I was never going to take him back as we knew he'd stay all the way to the line. "He's not a slow horse and, to be fair, he had some solid form coming into the race. It's beautiful good ground, perfectly safe and this horse really relished it." Weld said: "Kingman is an outstanding miler and we were beaten fair and square in the Irish Guineas. "This colt really appreciated the better ground today, I thought he'd win and he did it well. He's a very genuine, tough, nice colt. It's nice for Sheikh Hamdan, he's a home-bred horse and it's lovely for Sheikh Hamdan to have the one-two. "This has been a very consistent horse for us. He's a good Group winner over a mile and he'll probably go back to a mile in the future. He's a horse to look forward to." It was a reversal of fortunes for the trainers of the front two from Epsom earlier in the month, when John Gosden's Taghrooda held off the Weld-trained Tarfasha in the Investec Oaks. Gosden said: "We'll let Dermot have this one, I'm glad it was the other way round in the Oaks. "I thought it was a very high quality race and they (first two) both came out of a Guineas (Muwaary was fourth in the French Guineas). The speed of the race and the power they showed, they were well clear of the third and they are both owned by the same man, so he had no problem in the final furlong." Angus Gold, racing manager to Sheikh Hamdan, said: "Dermot was second in the Oaks to John Gosden, so he's got his revenge. I'm thrilled for the Sheikh and both trainers. They are improving three-year-olds and showed their class today. Dermot has always believed in this horse and it's great to see him do it."
