Trainer Brad Cox's 1,948th career North American victory was noteworthy because of who it was for.
Cawkab, who broke his maiden in Friday's third race at Oaklawn, represented Cox's first winner for Shadwell Stable, the famed global breeding and racing operation now overseen by Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum following the death of her father, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in March 2021.
Cox said late Friday afternoon that Cawkab, a 3-year-old son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin out off Catch the Moon, by Malibu Moon, is the first horse he's had for Shadwell, which has downsized its footprint following Sheikh Hamdan's death.
Cox, the reigning two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, said he was contacted by Shadwell late last summer and Cawkab moved to his barn around Sept. 1.
“Just got a call from (Shadwell), asking if I was willing to take some horses for them,” Cox said. “Obviously, you're going to say yes. It was good. Obviously, they've moved in a little bit different direction. It looks like they definitely want to continue to have a presence in American racing with Sheikha Hissa taking over. Just glad to be a part of their operation here in America.”
Cawkab is a half brother to, among others, millionaire Grade 1 winner and Airdrie Stud resident sire Girvin and to late Grade 3 winner, former classics starter, and multimillionaire Midnight Bourbon. Shadwell purchased Cawkab from consignor Taylor Made Sales Agency for $500,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Cawkab finished fourth in his career debut, a one-mile maiden special weight, Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. Ridden for the first time Friday by Joe Talamo, Cawkab stretched out to 1 1/16 miles in the $90,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and up and scored by 2 ¾ lengths. Cawkab paid $4.60 as the favorite in the six-horse field. The winning time over a fast track was 1:44.92.
“He definitely acted like a two-turn horse once we picked him up, breezed him a few times,” Cox said. “It looked like he wanted ground. We ran him one turn first time out and kind of showed he would get better with experience and ground. He took a step forward today.”
Cox said he doesn't have any other horses for Shadwell, but added he is supposed to “have a group of 2-year-olds coming we're excited about.”
“We'll see how it goes,” Cox said.
Cox already trains for internationally prominent Godolphin LLC, which was founded by Sheikh Hamdan's, brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Cox saddled champion Essential Quality, a Godolphin homebred, to win the 2021 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn.
Cawkab marked Shadwell's 26th victory at Oaklawn, the first coming in 2001. Arkansas native Dan Peitz has 23 winners for Shadwell at Oaklawn, highlighted by Mufajaah in the 2015 Pippin Stakes and Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares. Trainer Michael Pino won two races for Shadwell at the 2006 meeting.
Notable runners for Shadwell in America include 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor, 2006 Belmont (G1) winner Jazil, and 2021 champion 3-year-old filly Malathaat for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Shadwell was honored with an Eclipse Award as the country's top owner in 2007.
Cawkab was the first victory of the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting for Cox and his 266th overall in Hot Springs. Cox was Oaklawn's third-leading trainer last season with 31 victories. He won a meet-high five stakes races, including the Arkansas Derby (G1) for 3-year-olds with Cyberknife.
The post ‘It Looks Like They Definitely Want To Continue To Have A Presence In American Racing’: Cox’s First Winner For Shadwell Stable Comes With Cawkab At Oaklawn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
