Like father, like son - history repeated itself at Newmarket on Thursday as Lusail emulated his sire Mehmas to win the Group 2 July Stakes.
The Tally-Ho bred youngster had created a fine impression when winning his debut at York and again when following up at Newmarket. He stepped up on that again on Thursday, always travelling well in the hands of Pat Dobbs before fighting off a host of challengers to score cosily.
“Lusail travelled very well into the dip and I knew he'd find as he's run over seven before but he got a little bit lonely in front,” said Pat Dobbs. “It was close for comfort but he's got a brilliant attitude and is laid-back. The faster the ground the better for him. I was surprised we decided to run him over six furlongs rather than seven on Saturday but the forecast was uncertain so we opted to run him on the good ground.”
Trainer Richard Hanson, who trained Mehmas to win the July and Richmond Stakes, noted plenty of similarities between father and son.
“He's very like his dad who won the same race, he’s asleep all the time, you can get on with him and he does his job," Hannon told Racing TV.
"It's a stallions' race this, a very important race. Mehmas is doing really well, his results are unbelievable - I can’t get enough of them. They’re carbon copies of each other."
Lusail was purchased for 160,000gns by Charlie Gordon-Watson and Al Shaqab Racing out of our draft at Book 2 of last year's Tattersalls October Sale. He is the second foal out of the winning Diaminda, a half-sister to top sprinter Fayr Jag.
Mehmas was a record-breaking first-crop sire of 2020 and is continuing that hot run this season as the sire of 17 2yo winners, more than any other European sire. Lusail becomes his 12th stakes winner overall.
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