William Haggas is considering stepping up Maljoom’s trip after he finished as the best of the rest behind the resurgent Notable Speech in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
Maljoom had shown significant promise early in his career, winning his first three starts impressively. Although he was unlucky not to make it four in a row when finishing strongly from a challenging position in the 2022 St James’s Palace at Royal Ascot, his career since has been somewhat interrupted. He managed only one outing last season, but his latest performance suggests he still has considerable ability.
Following third-place finishes in both the Paradise Stakes and the Queen Anne at Ascot, Maljoom wore blinkers for his most recent race. He demonstrated commendable form by securing second place behind Notable Speech and ahead of the French raider Facteur Cheval.
Haggas praised the horse's performance, noting steady improvement this year and expressing interest in trying him over a mile and a quarter. He acknowledged the horse’s slow starts but highlighted a strong finish.
Facteur Cheval placed third, repeating last year's performance and showing improvement over his previous race. Trainer Jerome Reynier is contemplating the Irish Champion Stakes for him, affirming his reliability and strong past performance in Group One races.
Henry Longfellow, the favourite trained by Aidan O’Brien, struggled due to race conditions and finished fourth. Part-owner Michael Tabor noted that pressure from another horse affected his performance, and he's hopeful for future races.