IT is not common for young three-year-olds to win handicaps off top weight at this time of year, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum will be impressed with his home-bred Mawsoof, who came away to win a MR66 handicap over 1000m at the Vaal on Thursday by 2.75-lengths.

Mawsoof, unchallenged.

When Callan Murray shook Mawsoof up at the business end, the race was all over as a contest and Mike de Kock said: “We have another promising runner here, the manner in which he won was impressive and his time was fast.

“There is a long way to go still, but if Mawsoof continues like this he could be a stakes horse.”

Mawsoof is by Trippi from Besma, by Western Winter.