Ruwaiyan

Ruwaiyan ran a cracker in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood on Saturday. Slowly away, James Tate's horse was disputing last place early on in the far side group, a group which may have been at least a little disadvantaged. He travelled really well though, he was still on the bridle passing the two-furlong pole.

There was no gap forthcoming, however, so Graham Lee had to move him all the way across to the far side in order to get a gap through which he could deliver his challenge. Even when he did, he had to check a little to avoid York Glory in front of him, but he finished best of all on the far side, moving past the 5/2 favourite Muthmir to get up for fourth place. He probably would not have beaten the winner Intrinsic however the race had panned out for him, but he probably would have got significantly closer had he been drawn closer to the near side, or had he enjoyed better luck in-running.

The son of Cape Cross is a talented individual. He is five years old now, but he is in the form of his life. On his penultimate run before this, over seven furlongs at Goodwood, he raced a little keenly and just got run down close home by the talented Clockmaker. On his final run before Saturday, he finished a close-up second behind the exciting Michael Appleby horse Danzeno in a Group 3 race at Newcastle, when he had useful sprinters like Body And Soul and Sir Maximilian behind him. He was raised 8lb for that run, but Saturday's performance suggests that he can still win a good handicap off his new mark of 103.

Although he does go well at Goodwood, this fast six furlongs was probably a little sharper than ideal. He does show really good speed for a horse who was campaigned over 10 and 12 furlongs as a three-year-old, but a stiffer six furlongs or an easy seven furlongs could suit him better. It is interesting that his trainer has entered him in the Sprint Cup at Haydock and in the British Champion Sprint at Ascot. Group 1 races like that are probably beyond him, but it does give an indication of the regard in which he is held, and he will be of interest in a good handicap now off this mark.

2nd August 2014

Back