Maraahel lands Hardwicke double

Maraahel scooped connections another big pot when landing the Hardwicke Stakes

for the second year in succession.

Sir Michael Stoute's battle-hardened entire travelled powerfully for Richard

Hills and took a length or so out of his field when hitting the front shortly

after entering the straight.

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Scorpion took a while to hit top gear but looked a massive danger inside the

distance as Mick Kinane conjured a sustained drive from Aidan O'Brien's

heavily-backed 4-5 favourite.

However, Hills had kept a little extra up his sleeve and Maraahel was not for

passing, eventually landing odds of 100-30 by half a length.

Jane Chapple-Hyam's Mighty ran his usual sound race to claim third, a further

two and a half lengths behind the principals.

Stoute was grabbing his first win of the week and he admitted: "It's been a

bit frustrating, but we are thrilled with this horse and I think he's better

than ever as a six-year-old.

"We used to have a visor on him, but put blinkers on this year. They seem to

have woken him up and he's won three out of four, so we're not going to take

them off.

"We'll see how he's come out of it and talk to Sheikh Hamdan (before making

plans). We'd love to win a Group One with him one day."

Hills said: "I've managed to get it right on him three times this year, and

I've found if I can get him to the front then he's a hard horse to get by.

"For four years we've pretty much took on the best and we've been thereabouts

and the horse keeps coming up with it.

"From a jockey's point of view, you can't ask for more than that. I wanted to

be where I was in coming into the straight as he's a hard horse to go by."

O'Brien said of Scorpion: "He ran a stormer and it was a very good race.

"He was coming home well and was getting there and getting there. He is well

entered, including back here in the King George, and we'll go home and discuss

plans."

Scorpion was eased to 12-1 from 10s by VC Bet for the midsummer showpiece,

while his Hardwicke conqueror Maraahel is now on offer at the same price, having

been 25-1 beforehand.

Third-home Mighty potentially has another big race on his agenda.

Chapple-Hyam said: "I'm very pleased with him and he might have finished on

their backsides if it wasn't for trouble in running.

"I've taken a gamble and put him and Mudawin in the Melbourne Cup. I'll give

him a break now and then bring him back, and start thinking about going to

Australia."