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Post Position:  |
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Starter Analysis |
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Pedigree Analysis |
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HATAAB comes in off eight days rest after prepping for this race against his better known stablemate, Sarafan, who romped in that allowance as a tuneup for the Japan Cup. This guy really didn't show much in the prep and you have to wonder if he wasn't in there to make the five-horse race go, as it may not have been carded with four runners. But he did need the race and stands only to improve here despite the fact that eight days is not ideal. His better form seen last winter puts him in the mix by the numbers but the return scenario makes it hard to believe he isn't a race away. As great as trainer Neil Drysdale is, his second stringer may have taken one for the team last out and seems doubtful to score the upset here wheeling right back off such a dull return effort. Give him another one and watch out when he runs back on full rest in the third start of his form cycle. |
HATAAB is by Woodman, who sold for $3,000,000 as a yearling and was champion two year old in Ireland. Woodman was retired to stud due to injury after one start at age three. Woodman, son of the late Mr. Prospector, has himself sired over 80 stakes winners, including American classic winners Hansel (Preakness and Belmont Stakes (G1)) and Timber Country (Preakness (G1)), Chiselling (Secretariat Stakes (G1)), Bosra Sham (Champion Stakes (G1)), and Hawk Wing (Eclipse Stakes (G1)). Miss Mistletoes (IRE), dam of Hataab, was stakes placed in Ireland at age three. She is the half sister to Lomond Blossom (IRE), who was a Group 3 stakes winner on the turf at age two in England. Miss Mistletoes (IRE) has proven to be a very versatile dam. Her first foal, War Talk, won over $100,000 on the turf and then had a success steeplechase career, winning several stakes going "over the jumps". In addition to Hataab, she has also produced the stakes winning Governor Brown, who took the Somerville Tattersall Stakes (G3) at age two in England. |
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HATAAB enters the Turf Cup winless in three 2003 starts. His best
finish on the year was a third place effort in the Turf Paradise
Breeders' Cup February 1. Since then, he has finished off the board in
both the San Marino Handicap and an allowance race November 13 in
Inglewood. The allowance race was the first start in eight months for
the son of Woodman. Hataab first started in the U.S. December 31, 2001
and has won just once in eight tries. His victory came over the
Hollywood turf course last fall, when he rallied from 11 lengths back to
win the 1-1/8 mile optional claiming race. The Neil Drysdale-trained
6-year-old raced seven times in England, winning three and finishing
second twice. He faced Group stakes company once, in the Peugeot Gordon
Stakes (GIII), and finished seventh of 10.
Overall, Hataab has compiled a 15-4-3-1 record, with earnings of
$127,148. He has raced three times at the 1-1/2 mile Turf Cup distance
and has failed to finish higher than fourth.
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