Awtaad's brother completes handicap hat-trick

Awtaad's brother Alhaazm completed a handicap hat-trick on reappearance at Dundalk today as the Kevin Prendergast trained five year old readily landed the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap under jockey Chris Hayes.

Awtaad won the 2016 Irish 2,000 Guineas for trainer Prendergast and while Alhaazm initially failed to win in 12 starts, nine when trained in Britain by Michael Stoute, today he completed a handicap treble, when following up September and October wins, again at today's venue.

Jockey Hayes later reported “he did well for us at the back end of last year and he loves nice ground.

“He was crying out for a break because when he came to us we changed a lot of things up with him and he was on the go a while.

“The boss freshened him up and when I came back in January he looked like a different horse, mad well in himself.

“He has settled into the boss's routine. This race popped up, we weren't sure how fit he was because it's our first runner of the year.

“It's nice to get one for Sheikh Hamdan as he doesn't keep many horses in training rated at that level. Hopefully he can win another one.

“I like him, he has a very good attitude. He has just really settled into the boss's way of training and it seems to have improved him.”

Quotes from Gary Carson