RAJANI

4-YEAR-OLD BAY GELDING

SIYOUNI x RAMORA (Monsun)

Trainer: Andre Fabre

Breeder: Ecurie Peregrine SAS

Owner: Mme A Fabre

This gelding by Siyouni has certainly been given time to mature. He didn't make his debut until March 2020, when he won a decent conditions race for newcomers 3 days before the racing shutdown caused by the pandemic. The form of that race has worked out reasonably well in time, though the enforced break caused by the pandemic probably upset Rajani, as he trailed in last on his next start at Clairefontaine in July.

Given 11 weeks to get over that below par effort, Rajani returned a different horse in the autumn, winning both starts on the turf at Chantilly, including when holding off the talented (if a little frustrating) Ecrivain to take the Listed Le Fabuleux stakes in October. That was a career best, despite showing a lot of immaturity and carrying his head to one side.

His jockey, Pierre-Charles Boudot told Jour de Galop after the race "I think he has a good attitude for the turf. He is a quality horse, even if he needs a little help. Rajani is still immature: he needs to be shown how to focus in his races. Despite this, he has taken a real step forward compared to his last race, and his comeback has done him a lot of good. At the moment he is in very good physical condition. His blinkers are there for him to concentrate a bit. He's on the right track"

His Sire, Siyouni, is one of the rising stars of the European breeding ranks, in particular as his progeny mature and given the progress that Rajani made during his first season on the track, there is no doubt that there will be further improvement in him. He is due to start his season at Saint-Cloud on 11th March in the Listed Prix Altipan. That should give us a good guide as to where he sits in the pecking order and he is an exciting prospect for the all ages races at around 1 mile this season.