Haafhd boosted his 2000 Guineas claims when he made all to run out a really impressive winner of the Craven Stakes at Newmarket this afternoon.
Three Valleys was sent off the 2-1 market leader but took a fearsome hold leaving the stalls as Richard Hills elected to lead on Haafhd for his father Barry.
Hills jnr slowly wound it up from the front and his five rivals were left toiling when he pressed the button with two to run on the son of Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Al Bahathri.
He never looked like being caught as he streaked clear for a five length success over the favourite.
The winning rider told Channel 4: "That was very good. He reminds me a lot of his mother. It was a trial and I wanted to test him today. He really enjoyed it in front and just kept picking up whenever I asked.
"I gave him a little dig just to pick up and it would have taken a very good horse to catch him. If something had gone on, then fine, but I had a pace in my own mind that I wanted to set and I was either going to do it myself or someone would do it for me.
"If he can maintain that and improve, I will be looking forward to the first week in May (for the UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas)."
Filed by James McMahon
