Encosta de Lago sired the fifth winner from his sole stint at Coolmore’s Irish base in 2007 when Mutahadee was successful in the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden at Dundalk on Friday evening.

Mutahadee (2c Encosta De Lago – Mosaique Bleue by Shirley Heights) went out at a long quote but defied the price to score by two lengths from Asheerah (Shamardal).  “He’s massive and has always gone well at home,” winning jockey Wayne Lordan said.  “But he’s so laid-back, we were afraid that he’d be too green first time out.

Mutahadee was one of the picks in the parade ring owing chiefly to his size but was allowed to start at $21 on debut.  “He travelled well and picked up to win the way he had been working,” Lordan added.  “He will be a nice horse for next year.”

Mutahadee is trained by Tommy Stack for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa and was an 80,000 euros purchase at the Goffs yearling sale in September 2009.  His dam is a half-sister to French Group 1 winners Mersey (St Leger) and Muncie (Prix Saint-Alary).

The five Encosta de Lago winners conceived at Coolmore in 2007 are among 19 juveniles to race so far this year.  The most expensive from that crop was a colt out of Nicole And Krista that made US$500,000 at Saratoga in August 2009.  He was registered as Lagoon Of Diamonds but hasn’t fired in three starts for leading trainer Bob Baffert.  

Mutahadee’s owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa has a global bloodstock portfolio.  His Australian bred three year-olds  Raihana (Elusive Quality) and Musir (Redoute’s Choice) were feature winners in South Africa before clinching the UAE Oaks – UAE Derby double earlier this year.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa is a first cousin of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed and is best known in Australia through NSW Breeders’ Plate winner Murtajill (Rock Of Gibraltar) who is now based at stud at Patinack Farm.