King of Sprinters

As you will have read last week, David enjoyed spending time with Charlie Hills both at Royal Ascot, in Portugal and then visiting his training establishment at Lambourn when back in London.

On Saturday his Royal Ascot star became the toast of Europe - and we couldn't be more thrilled for Charlie - he is a terrific guy who has a huge future ahead of him (as does this colt) .... Racing Post reported ...

Muhaarar followed up his brilliant Commonwealth Cup victory with a last-gasp win over Tropics in the July Cup that confirmed the three-year-old as the new star of British sprinting.

This was a very different sort of performance to Muhaarar's dominant Ascot victory, however, with the winner needing every single yard of the six furlong trip to get up in a photo-finish.

"He didn't really come down the hill but he's a fighter and battled all the way to the line," said trainer Charlie Hills, who added his horse had not appreciated the track. "He's just a very, very good horse."

Hills had also expressed concern before the race that Muhaarar's royal meeting romp may have taken a heavier toll on his charge than it appeared and undoubtedly this was not the freewheeling Muhaarar who so effortlessly slayed a classy field in the Commonwealth Cup.

Astaire, Tropics and the Australian sprinter Brazen Beau cut out the early speed and heading into the final furlong it looked as if the Dean Ivory-trained Tropics was going to take a notable prize for his trainer.

But Paul Hanagan had finally found top gear on Muhaarar, who had been pushed along since halfway, and with the post approaching he ground down Tropics with a withering drive.

Tropics filled the same position last year, losing by one and a half lengths to Slade Power, and also finished second in the Group 2 British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot.

"He travelled so strongly and it's not ideal ground for him," said Ivory. "He was just unlucky really, we'll keep going I've got so much faith in the horse."

Eastern Impact ran a huge race at 50-1 to finish third, while five furlong specialist Sole Power showed six is not beyond his reach with a commendable fourth-placed finish.

Aussie raider Brazen Beau, who ran a fine race to finish second in the Diamond Jubilee last month, was a disappointing seventh after weakening in the final furlong.

As for Muhaarar, the question now is just how good he might be after a good rest and back on a more suitable track. Hills mentioned the Prix Maurice de Gheest, the Haydock Sprint Cup and British Champions Sprint Stakes back at Ascot as targets.