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Wednesday 30th March 2005, Page 4

Spa sessions help Mubtaker race on

MUBTAKER, runner-up in the Arc in 2003, is set to race on as an eight-year-old this year – with options including the Coronation Cup – after his joint problems were eased by sessions in a new equine spa at Marcus Tregoning’s stables, writes Rodney Masters.

Due to a prolonged bout of tendonitis, Mubtaker had a light campaign last season and did not appear until August, when winning the Geoffrey Frer Stakes at Newbury for the third time.

Following two subsequent defeats overseas, it was decided not to return to Longchamp for the Arc, where the previous year he had finished a three-quarter-length second to Dalakhani.

However, Tregoning is pleased with Mubtaker’s progress in recent weeks and considers the spa is largely responsible for his wellbeing.

The trainer said: “Mubtaker has had a joint condition that had aggravated at various times in his life. Sheikh Hamdan [his owner] suggested the spa should be installed and it has been of tremendous benefit.

“You’d never guess he’s an eight-year-old, and we’ve had a much better run at things this year than last, when he had problems handling the dirt in Dubai.”

He added: “Mubtaker will usually go in the spa for ten minutes before he exercises, and it’s been excellent for his joints and muscles. It’s also most helpful for horses with sore shins.”

Although the Coronation Cup at Epsom’s Derby meeting has been pencilled in for Mubtaker, the alternative is the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, in which he finished runner-up to Millenary in 2002. Tregoning has another possible for the Coronation in High Accolade, who finished a close fourth behind Warrsan 12 months ago.

Tregoning has a high opinion of Mogaamer, a winner on the Lingfield Polytrack this month, who he expects to improve when he takles turf for the first time in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket’s Craven meeting.

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