Elsie’s Ruan Shines in York Debut, Trainer Tutty Considering Sweet Solera and Stonehenge Stakes
Gemma Tutty’s filly Elsie’s Ruan impressed with a debut victory at York, leaving the trainer with a decision to make regarding the promising two-year-old’s next step. The daughter of Ulysses out of a Helmet mare made her first appearance on the Knavesmire in a novice event late last month, where she was ridden by Joanna Mason in an 18-runner contest over seven furlongs.
Starting at 22/1 as one of the few horses making their debut, Elsie’s Ruan was steadily into stride and faced some traffic issues, finding herself with plenty of runners to pass halfway through the race. However, the young filly showed clear ability to progress, battling Archie Watson’s Praetorian in the final furlong and prevailing by a head.
“I think we’re going (to Newmarket), it’s not set in stone yet, as we are looking at the Listed race at Salisbury on Wednesday,” Tutty said. “She’d been impressive enough at home but I thought it was quite a lot for her to take in on debut, to go to a track like York in a big field against experienced rivals, but I couldn’t have been more pleased with that performance.”
Tutty noted that despite some early difficulties, the filly’s tenacity and ability to fight to the line were impressive qualities that can’t be trained. The trainer also believes Elsie’s Ruan will appreciate a step up in distance in the future, given her sire’s influence, which has brought the Stonehenge Stakes into consideration as well.
“The fact she’s a Ulysses means she’ll get further in time, I’d be happy to go at a mile now,” Tutty said. “I’d prefer Newmarket to be a mile but it’s a fillies-only and that makes it more tempting than the Listed race at Salisbury – the colts are in that, so it’s a bit of a Catch-22 really.”
Regardless of the decision, Elsie’s Ruan’s impressive debut has marked her as a promising young prospect in the world of horse racing, and her future performances will be closely watched by fans and experts alike.
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