Ruling Court lays down the law in Jumeirah 2,000 Guineas

Exciting three-year-old Ruling Court set himself up for some lofty targets with an exhilarating display in the Listed Jumeirah 2,000 Guineas Sponsored By Emirates Holidays on Emirates Super Saturday, 1 March. 

The Justify colt was making his third career start, and first Meydan appearance, having readily won on debut at Sandown Park before finishing third in York’s G3 Acomb Stakes. 

After breaking on terms, Ruling Court was held up in eighth of the 10 runners by William Buick, some seven lengths behind the pacesetting Nedawy. 

Ruling Court took closer order in fifth over three furlongs from home and cruised into contention with a furlong and a half to race. 

Having collared Nedawy passing the furlong-pole, the Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old stormed clear under minimal persuasion to beat The Fingal Raven by an easy six lengths. 

Charlie Appleby said: “I think Ruling Court will continue to develop and we will go back to Europe with a sharper model. I never want to get too excited in the immediate aftermath, but we anticipated him being a 10-furlong horse, so whether we got to the Dante or take in the Guineas beforehand, we’ll see.” 

William Buick said: “Ruling Court was superb. I could not have asked for a better effort from him. Charlie was very keen for him to learn a little bit and bring him forward. He will have learned plenty there, but his acceleration was instant. He has a huge amount of talent and is a very exciting horse. 

“I am pretty confident that he will get a mile and a quarter. I loved the way he switched off, and then when you ask him, he is there for you immediately. He is a much stronger horse this year, naturally. 

“This is always an exciting time of the year, albeit it is early with a long season ahead. Opera Ballo could not have done it any better at Kempton and is by an exciting sire in Ghaiyyath. Then you have this lad tonight. It is very exciting.”