archie
Fat Jockey Patron
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Sharjah (FR)
4-y-o; gelding
Breeding: Doctor Dino - Saaryeh (Royal Academy)
Trained by: W P Mullins
Last Race: Gowran Park, 29 Sep 2017 14:15
Result: Won/19, led early, headed 2nd, regained lead 3 out, went clear approaching last, shaken up briefly run-in, stayed on strongly, easily
View full form
Willie Mullins has hit the ground running this autumn and it was impossible not to be impressed with Sharjah’s winning debut at Gowran at the end of September.
Running in the Rich Ricci colours, the four-year-old was prominent under Ruby Walsh from the outset and showed plenty of boot to extend away and collect by an laughably easy five lengths.
Sharjah was a mile-and-a-half winner in France and was given a year off after his arrival at Mullins’s yard – a tactic which seems to work well and gives the French horses time to acclimatise.
It is impossible to know where he sits in the Mullins pecking order but I thought this was a taking debut and he looks a sure-fire Graded winner in waiting.
scooby - you seem to be well up on anything coming over from France.... how-so? if you don't mind me asking. (It is brilliant, more info the better) - I''m just curious!
Speaking of French horses... on the ATR website MArtin Kelly has put up a Ricci one that slipped under the radar, although I see is 20/1 for the Supreme...
Know anything about him?
I got told that this is Mullins Supreme horse this season. 50/1+ available on the exchanges.
Which one?
I know of 18 ricci novice/juveniles
No triumph thread but Malay a is also entered up on Sunday where if she runs I expect her to smash gumball on the bridle. French mare straight from the top draw.
Sam t d jocked up. Will be very interested in the opening betting after gumball romping home previously and hoping the market will be all wrong.
Very excited about Malaya, the best purchase iv seen so far for me, imo head and shoulders above apples shakira.
with melody of scotland for jp/ king another very nice mare.
Good shout on Malaya and I will keep an eye on her.
One thing I do always have an issue with is collateral French form as it quite often does not stack up when the horses enter training in the UK or Ireland and you can see dramatic improvements. For instance, Vautour was beaten twice in France before moving to Mullins. On his second start he was beaten 6l by Black River getting 4lbs. Vautour went on to be a 176 chaser and Black River a lowly 132. These young, inexperienced horses are all brought along at different rates so for some, their French form can be barely scratching the surface of their ability but for others it could be as good as they get.
So although the form of Malaya looks impressive right now, I'd take a punt that Apples Shakira may turn out to be the better horse in time.
I agree completely with what you are saying, you cant always take the form literally. but with the likes of vautour (maccaire) they know what they are doing when retaining there novice status for a higher fee. And recommending them to Pierre boullard/ mullins