Alkaased (foaled 19 February 2000) is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2005 Japan Cup in a then world record time.
In the following year he developed into a world-class middle-distance performer, winning the Jockey Club Stakes in England and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in France before beating a strong international field in the Japan Cup.
[5] As a descendant of the broodmare Mesopatamia, she came from the same branch of Thoroughbred family 10-c which produced Mastery, Galaxy Libra (Sunset Handicap, Man o' War Stakes), Halling, Cherokee Rose (Haydock Sprint Cup, Prix Maurice de Gheest) and Balla Cove (Middle Park Stakes, Round Table Handicap).
In the following month he started favourite for a one-mile maiden race at Newmarket Racecourse and finished fourth of the sixteen runners behind Persian Majesty.
Ridden by Willie Supple, he recorded his first success, taking the lead half a mile from the finish and winning by four lengths despite being eased down in the closing stages.
Four weeks later, the colt carried 127 pounds and started at odds of 7/1 for the Old Newton Cup, a one and a half mile handicap at Haydock Park Racecourse.
[12] On 30 July, Alkaased was moved up in class to contest the Listed Glorious Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse and was made the 11/4 favourite against eight opponents.
He moved into second place 300 metres from the finish but was unable to make further progress and was beaten two and a half lengths by the mare Pride, with the German-bred Shirocco in third.
Alkaased was brought back in distance for the Champion Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket and finished fifth of fifteen runners behind David Junior, Pride, Maraahel and Oratorio.
Alkaased gained the advantage and held off the late challenge of Heart's Cry on the inside to win by a nose, with Zenno Rob Roy one and three quarter lengths back in third ahead of Lincoln and Ouija Board.
[11] After his win in the Japan Cup, Alkaased was sold for a reported $7.4 million and stood as a breeding stallion Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud at an initial fee of $20,700.