Ellemujie

Ellemujie put up a nice performance to win a 10-furlong handicap at Newmarket on Friday. Settled in behind favourite Feathered Crown in the centre of the track, the Dean Ivory-trained gelding looked to get a little outpaced when they quickened three furlongs out, but he soon had the move covered, and he travelled better than anything into the final furlong and a half. He improved nicely when Frankie Dettori pulled him out and asked him to pick up, he joined Feathered Crown inside the final furlong and went on to win a shade cosily.

This was the Mujahid gelding’s first win since he won a handicap at Sandown last June. He was beginning to look exposed but he had dropped down to a nice handicap mark of 79 before Friday, 8lb lower than the mark off which he recorded his Sandown win. The handicapper has given him 5lb for this, but there is a chance that he has improved again for the step up to 10 furlongs. It was his first rty over the trip in almost two years and 20 runs, and he seemed to appreciate it, he stayed it well and he travelled well off the slower pace. He apparently got jarred up a little when he raced on fast ground, so he won’t run on very fast ground during the summer, but he will be fine even on ground on the fast side of good. He could run in a 10-furlong handicap at Sandown next Friday, and he will be of interest if he lines up in that.

28th May 2010