One of the biggest eye-catchers to take out of the 2022 Royal Ascot festival was the William Haggas trained Maljoom and now the handler has nominated the Prix Jacques Le Marois as his next big target.
A very exciting talent for the Newmarket handler he went into Royal Ascot having landed a hat-trick of wins including last time out when taking the German 2000 Guineas.
A 14/1 shot for the St James's Palace Stakes last week he was very underestimated in the betting but if not for meeting trouble in running would have won.
When asked for his effort he was caught behind a wall of horses which saw jockey Cieren Fallon have to manoeuvre him around and when getting a clear path flew home to lose in a photo-finish.
What a finish in the St James's Palace! Coroebus is just too good and holds on to win at #RoyalAscot! pic.twitter.com/IyG1jS5LIm
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 14, 2022
Haggas has dismissed the possibility of supplementing him for the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood to take on stable companion Baaeed and will instead send him to France in search of a first Group One.
(Credit Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast) Haggas said: “Sheikha Hissa’s (Baaeed’s owner) uncle is Sheikh Ahmed (Maljoom’s owner) so I don’t think there’s any desire to send Maljoom for the Sussex and he’s not in it for a start off. I think he’s going to go for the Jacques le Marois.
“I’m pretty sure he’d have won with a clear run, they went no gallop in that race and it was really messy. Ryan’s (Moore, Aikhal) horse fell back at the wrong time and it was one of those things that can happen.
“The horse made rapid gains in the last furlong and many observers thought he’d have won and I agree, I think he would have done.”