Mussab enters Breeders’ Cup picture with Cornwallis win

Mussab could be Breeders’ Cup-bound after completing a hat-trick in an all-Yorkshire finish to the Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes.

Richard and Peter Fahey’s juvenile arrived at the Rowley Mile having bagged Listed honours at Ayr last month and climbed another rung up the sprinting ladder when edging out Geoff Oldroyd’s In The Black by a nose in a Group Three run at a breakneck speed.

The mount of Oisin Orr, who was sent off at 8-1, broke the two-year-old track record in a time of 56.98 seconds – albeit wind assisted – and could now put that speed to good use in Keeneland later this month.

Peter Fahey said: “When he came from the breeze-ups he wasn’t a typical breezer, he wasn’t fully prepped and he only squeezed into the sales last minute. He was a bit behind everything else and we rushed him to get Ascot and then pitched him in again in the Gimcrack.

“We took a breath and I think Newcastle was the first time we’ve had him 100 per cent fit and it’s all been uphill progress from there.

“I don’t think he was in love with the ground (soft) when he won at Ayr, I just think he was the best horse in the race and his quality came to the fore.

“He has an unbelievable attitude, he walks round like a pony and fingers crossed, if all is OK with him tomorrow the Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile Turf Sprint) is the plan with him.

“I think he will enjoy it out there as he is so agile you can put him wherever you want in a race, he has plenty of speed and also stays really well.

“He’s still progressing and strengthening up every day and he’s a horse who will be very exciting again next year. Five seems to be his gig at the moment but who knows if we can stretch him out a little next year.”

There was also Group Three two-year-old action in the Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes where Rod Millman hinted a change to the license could be forthcoming at his Devon base after seeing Lola De Valence (40-1) put herself into next year’s Classic picture under Saffie Osborne.

He said: “We were hoping she would run well and we were disappointed with the Dick Poole run but we put that down to soft ground and then we took her over to Ireland and she just missed the break before finishing well.

“It’s fantastic for everyone involved and the whole team has done a brilliant job.

“She was overpriced, she ran a sound race in Ireland last time and I thought that was worth being 20-1 not 40s. We were hoping she would run in the first five and obviously the distance and stiff finish has helped her.

“I think she will stay a mile and we’ll have to see but a Guineas tilt wouldn’t be the most unlikely thing.

“Patrick (son) is sitting his modules next week, so this will probably be my last chance to have a group winner on my own.”