It was a successful Stateside raid for Jamie Spencer who recouped a combined £750,000 in winnings on Monday evening.
Spencer has ridden in the US well over 100 times, including winning seven Grade 1’s in North America. The first leg of Monday’s double came in the Grade 3 Mint Millions Invitational Stakes. Spencer won the race with Ancient Rome in 2023, and returned to land it with Haatem for Richard Hannon.
Despite a sluggish break, Spencer was able to manoeuvre Haatem to the fore of midfield. Haatem, who looked well suited to the style of racing, hit the front early under Spencer and stuck on gamely.
Speaking after his £424,815 success, Spencer told the Racing Post: “I got into a good position. I got off the fence because he’s all about rhythm and he likes to get rolling.
“He travelled really well into the home turn and I probably produced him a furlong too soon. Once I got to the front. I used my whip and ran out of strokes, but he had his two ears pricked. You could feel the other horse coming to him. But he was never letting him past and he eased up looking at the winning line.”
Spencer has Doyle to thank for Mint Millions success
Jamie Spencer had ridden Haatem once prior to Monday, when second to Rosallion in the Irish 2000 Guineas. Doyle had ridden him on seven occasions, winning twice, and will no doubt have provided some words of wisdom.
Spencer continued: “He’s a fantastic horse – I’ve only ridden him twice – but I must thank James Doyle. He’s a friend who would’ve put me in for the ride, and I’ve known Richard Brown a long time. So I’m very appreciative to get to ride him.
“When he ran in the Wolferton, he never saw any daylight, and he had a little setback before Goodwood. So that was a stepping stone to here. I wasn’t bothered by his recent form. Because I knew the back form would be more than good enough if he turned up.”
The second leg of Spencer’s double came immediately after, with Take Charge Star justifying favouritism for Jonny Murtagh. It was a second career win for the Starspangledbanner son, after his Gowran Park maiden success last September.
It was a commanding success, following on from his length fourth in the Prix Maurice de Gheest. Spencer added a further £333,333 to the pot. It was a successful day all around for the Europeans, with Citrus Springs landing a Fillies Conditions Stakes for Joseph O’Brien earlier on.