Ownership
Horse 3: Rufus
Another seasoned campaigner, this five-year-old horse is a regular in the top long distance (or ‘staying’ as they are known) races on the flat. He has been gelded though, so there’s no chance that he’ll be a stallion in the future. (Gelding means that he has been castrated: quite often the temperament of a stallion is difficult to control, and geldings are easier to handle.)
Choice of jockey
Although he’s quite experienced, he’s not the easiest to ride in his races (he tends to want to go too fast, too soon), so he needs an experienced jockey to counter this.
Potential
He has won quite a few high class races – and is expected to be a leading contender again this year – but he may also be suited to having a go at jumping hurdles. If he takes to this, he could become a major player in some of the big hurdle races next season – where there’s good prize money available.
Training
He’s trained by an up-and-coming young trainer who can clearly get the best out of this horse, but who is a little cheaper than his big-name counterparts. Again, by having the horse in training in a stable like this, owners are able to have a closer relationship with both the horse and the trainer.