New sire sensation Acclamation notched his first stakes win of the year when Hitchens claimed the Al Shindagha Sprint at Meydan on Friday night.

Hitchens had won the G3 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh and LR Golden Rose Stakes at Lingfield last year before heading to the Gulf.  He also finished fifth to Dream Ahead in the G1 Darley July Cup.

Trained by David Barron for Laurence O’Kane and Paul Murphy, Hitchens starred on the seventh night of racing in the Dubai World Cup Carnival with a hard fought victory over Krypton Factor.

Singapore raider Captain Obvious (Aus) and Krypton Factor (GB) set the pace in the Al Shindagha Sprint before Hitchens ranged up in the straight.  He began to edge clear but Krypton Factor rallied along the rail to only go down a short-head.

Hitchens is one of 12 black-type gallopers from Acclamation’s first crop and has been the most resilient winning 7 races 41 starts.  He showed ability from the outset and landed a gamble to break his maiden at Folkestone in August 2007.

Barron bought Hitchens for 40,000gns at the Tattersalls 2008 HIT Sale.  “This horse has been brilliant for us and it is great to see him win on the international stage,” Barron said.  “There is a similar race on Super Saturday before hopefully going to the sprint on Dubai World Cup night.”

His dam Royal Fizz (Royal Academy) won at Deauville and she is a half-sister to G1 Hong Kong Classic Mile winner Floral Pegasus (Fusaichi Pegasus).  Her Grand Lodge gelding Grand Marque won in England and Hong Kong.

Hitchens gave Acclamation a great start to 2012.  The Rathbarry Stud resident sired six stakes winners last year led by G2 colts Harbour Watch and Lilbourne Lad.

Acclamation’s first crop has generated 54 individual winners at a tremendous 68% strike-rate.  Top of the totem-pole were Group 1 winners Dark Angel (Middle Park Stakes) and Equiano (King’s Stand Stakes).

Dark Angel was Europe’s 2011 Champion first-season sire in the winners’ category and Equiano is back in England after covering his first southern book at Swettenham Stud in Nagambie.  

Acclamation was as popular as ever last year covering 174 mares at Rathbarry.