Native Ruler

The Henry Cecil debutant Native Ruler was all the rage before the Newmarket curtain-raiser on Wednesday, the 10-furlong maiden, and he ran well to finish second to the Gosden debutant Sopranist, who was the beneficiary of a typically astute Dettori ride from the front. Native Ruler could never really get any cover from his draw in stall 10 of 12 on the far side, and didn’t look happy running down into The Dip on the fast ground, but he kept on well when he met the rising ground to go down by just over a length in the end.

Native Ruler holds an entry in the Dante and the Derby, so he is obviously held in really high regard. He should improve for this experience, and he should be better if he can get a little bit of cover in his races. Also, he will probably be better with a some cut in the ground. He is out of Oaks winner Love Divine, which makes him a half-brother to St Leger winner Sixties Icon, so it is probable that he will appreciate stepping up in trip as well, at least to a mile and a half. He should be worth bearing in mind for the future, and he could prove to be quite useful.

15th April 2009