Captain Ramius

Captain Ramius bounced back to form two starts back to win the Longines Handicap, the big ladies’ race on King George Day at Ascot, comfortably under Hayley Moore. He had always been prominent, took it up a quarter of a mile from home and powered clear to win by three lengths. He was not able to follow up at Chester a week later when he was drawn right on the outside of an 11-runner field and had to be held up, but he is at his best when racing with or close to the pace. He didn’t have an ideal passage through but still ran respectably to finish fourth.

He is clearly bang in form at present though as he showed when winning the Class 2 seven-furlong handicap at Newmarket on Saturday. He led the far side group of group of nine on Saturday, travelling easily, and kicked on two furlongs out. He edged to his right on the downhill run to the final furlong and as the two groups merged it soon became clear that there was nothing from the near side group getting seriously into contention, and Captain Ramius had more than enough in reserve to hold the rest of the runners on the far side. Dettori never had to get overly serious with him at any stage and he ultimately won with plenty in hand.

Kevin Ryan’s charge was nicely backed through the morning and was strong on course too, and he ran out a ready winner off 95, his highest winning mark, following up his Ascot win despite a 9lb rise. He is progressive again now at five having lost his way a little since his two-year-old days when he was a Listed winner, although he did take advantage of his mark slipping to 87 last September when winning over seven furlongs at Chester after several ordinary efforts over six. He seems better than ever this term, seven furlongs seems to be his optimum trip, his latest two wins have been big career-bests on Racing Post Ratings, and he is clearly in excellent heart at present. He has been raised a further 6lb for this latest victory, but that is not overly punitive given how easily he won in the end and he should be worth following again now. He is due to run in another 0-105 seven-furlong event at Doncaster on Saturday and he could go very well again there.

6th August 2011