Al Hudaiba reset the two-year-old pecking order at Newmarket on Saturday, digging out a short-head win over hot favourite Abraham Lincoln in the £125,000 Boodles Superlative Stakes. The 7-furlong Group 2 ended in a photo finish, with William Buick having to drive Al Hudaiba to the line after the colt shifted late, while Pikachu finished third in a field of seven.
The result mattered because it came against a Ballydoyle colt who had arrived with strong momentum. Abraham Lincoln had gone off at 8-13 after a 1 3/4-length debut win at the Curragh on 26 June, a performance that had marked him down as one of the summer’s leading juveniles. Instead, he met a rival with more composure under pressure, and Al Hudaiba stayed on strongly enough to turn a tight finish into a statement win.
Buick said Al Hudaiba started to shift underneath him late, which nearly cost the race, but the colt still found enough to repel the favourite. Charlie Appleby said the winner has plenty of ability, though he may need to concentrate harder at a higher level and could need headgear as he climbs the ladder. Appleby said he will look at the Group 1 National Stakes in Ireland next, a logical target for a colt who has now shown he can handle a serious test and keep his momentum when the pressure comes.
That forward-looking angle is what gives the race its weight. Al Hudaiba is no longer just a promising Newmarket winner; he is a colt whose profile has already moved into Guineas and National Stakes conversations, with the market reacting quickly after the result. The way he handled a strong favourite in a test that turned messy late suggests substance as well as raw talent, even if his quirks remain part of the package.
For Appleby and Godolphin, the race also reinforced a familiar pattern. He has now won the Superlative Stakes seven times in total and for the third year running, using the meeting as a springboard for horses such as Quorto, Master Of The Seas, Native Trail and Ancient Truth. That history adds context to Al Hudaiba’s win: this was not just another summer juvenile prize, but the kind that often points toward Group 1 company before the season is over.
Aidan O’Brien was upbeat about Abraham Lincoln despite the defeat, saying the colt was very green when he hit the front and had done something similar on debut when he got there too soon. That leaves the Ballydoyle colt still with upside, but for the moment Al Hudaiba has the stronger claim as the more reliable prospect for the next level, because he won the race that mattered when the tempo and the pressure were highest.
Every story on Horse Racing News is assembled by an automated editorial system that works from verified research, official records, and credible reporting, then clears automated accuracy and moderation checks before it goes live. The standards that system follows are set and overseen by the people who run the publication. Read our full editorial policy.
Did this article answer your question?
