Muwaary

Muwaary did remarkably well to finish as close as he did in fourth place in the Poule d'Essaie des Poulains at Longchamp on Sunday given how free and keen he was in the early stages of the race.

Fast out of the gate, the John Gosden-trained colt almost fly-jumped his way through the first furlong. Even when Paul Hanagan got him back and restrained behind the leader Itoobeboss after about two furlongs, he was still keener than ideal, wanting to go faster than his rider wanted him to go.

Third into the home straight behind a relatively sedate pace, it would have been understandable if Muwaary had been swamped once the pace increased, given the energy that he had to have expended through the early stages of the race. On the contrary, however, he picked up with the leaders two furlongs out and, while he could not match Karakontie's finishing surge, he stuck to his task really well to retain fourth place, closing on third-placed Pornichet all the way to the line.

Winner of his only race at two, the Oasis Dream colt won a seven-furlong handicap at Newbury last month on his debut this season off a mark of 82. He was impressive in so doing, but this was obviously a massive step up in class, into a Group 1 race, a Classic. Gosden is not usually a man to over-face his horses, however, so it was significant that he allowed him take his chance in the Poulains, and the decision was obviously justified. It may be that he will do better dropped back down to seven furlongs, the faster pace that they go over the shorter trip should help him settle better because, when he does settle better, he could be very good indeed. He could be a Jersey Stakes horse for Royal Ascot before going on to better things. This was just his third ever race, and he is an exciting prospect.

11th May 2014

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