Rashaan gains latest dramatic win

Rashaan is swiftly ticking off the Turf Club’s official list of winning distances and today scored his first short-head win at Down Royal, landing the Kerry Foods Hurdle as the admirable five year old scored a tenth career win.

The Aga Khan bred son of Manduro has a remarkable ability to win races and today, on his 18th run, arrived with his usual late flurry to edge past front-runner Wakea in the last stride, for a short-head win.

Four of Rashaan’s wins have now been achieved in dramatic last-gasp wins, and at winning margins of a nose, short-head, head and neck, and following today’s dramatic win, his adoring trainer Colin Kidd stated “he got there and got the job done!

“Sean (Flanagan) said they didn't go quick enough for him and if they had gone quicker he would have been better. That’s his third win here and you could nearly call him a course specialist at this stage.”

He added “it definitely opens up more options for him and without a doubt he stays three miles. We'll look for something for him again before the winter ground comes and then we'll put him away.

"That's his 10th win now and it takes a fair horse to win 10 races.”

Winning jockey Sean Flanagan was also completing a double on the day, having steered Bosco Di Alco to win the previous race.

Quotes from Michael Graham