Natural Ruler gets up close home for Coen

Following Highland Bling in the fifth race of the evening, the OTI Racing colours were quickly back in the winner's enclosure following the Tote 3-y-o Handicap in which Natural Ruler (11/4) got up close home under Ben Coen.

The Ten Sovereigns colt was ridden in third early in the straight and gave chase to Lady Doris from the furlong pole. He responded well to Coen's urgings and had a neck to spare over that rival at the line.

Johnny Murtagh 's charge was getting off the mark at the seventh time of asking and Coen said: "They went a good even gallop the whole way. The two in front of me picked up a bit turning in, at the bottom of the straight, and I thought they were gone on me but when I got a couple of smacks into my lad he really found his stride.

“I thought I won well at the line. I'd say he'll stay further. He's a horse that's improving with racing and mentally he's just coming there now. Hopefully he can keep going forward.

“He's a horse that probably took a little bit of minding, mentally wise, for the last couple of runs but I think he's coming right now.”

Quotes from Gary Carson