Rashaan

Rashaan looked very good in winning the Grade 3 juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday. Settled nicely on the inside by Mikey Fogarty through the early stages of the race, his jumping was good throughout, and he moved forward with odds-on favourite Missy Tassy on the run to the second last flight. He jumped that obstacle better than the favourite, and he very quickly moved away from her. He had the race in the bag on the run to the final flight, he popped that obstacle and maintained a clear advantage all the way to the line.

Raced just once on the flat for Michael Halford, the Manduro gelding had looked good in winning his two hurdle races prior to this for Colin Kidd. Bought for just €8,500 at Goffs in February, after springing a 33/1 shock in winning his maiden at Roscommon in August, he proved that that was no fluke when he easily landed a juveniles’ contest at Listowel on soft ground.

This was obviously a big step up in grade for him, into a Grade 3 contest and giving Missy Tata – winner of her maiden at Down Royal by 19 lengths – 12lb, but he travelled and won like a high-class individual. He was strong in the market even in the face of support for the favourite, and he won with more than the 13-length winning margin in hand.

He will have to step forward again now, but there is no telling how good he could be. From a good Aga Khan family, a half-brother to Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Rayeni, he jumps his hurdles well, and he could take a high rank among this season’s juveniles now. This race was won by Our Conor in 2012, and Rashaan will be of interest wherever he goes next.

29^th November 2015