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Honest stayer Mourayan has claimed a career best victory by taking out the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick last Saturday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Lloyd Williams-raced galloper had gone into the Group 1 Sydney Cup somewhat unnoticed as all eyes were on the well supported favourite Kelinni.
Mourayan was sound on making his return to Randwick in the Chairman’s Quality (2600m) the start prior and with the run under his belt, went to a new level in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) last Saturday.
Connections had been somewhat disappointed in Mourayan’s efforts during his three prior campaign starts which resulted in Lloyd Williams and Robert Hickmott changing up the veteran’s work.
They also elected to remove Mourayan’s stock standard blinkers in a bid to settle him mid race.
The rising eight-year-old was given an ideal ride by jockey Hugh Bowman who settled Mourayan midfield on the fence.
Bowman skilfully worked the interstate raider off the rail during the middle stages and peeled the Alhaarth entire out four deep turning for home.
The pair hit the front a furlong out on their way to a three-quarter length success.
Adelaide Cup winner Norsqui ran second while Snitzel mare Aliyana Tilde once again defied her pedigree in claiming third.
Race favourite Kelinni loomed in the straight however weakened over the concluding stages to run sixth.
Mourayan last Saturday moved out of the shadows of his higher profile stablemates such as Green Moon and ran to a Timeform figure of 119, two pounds shy of a master rating achieved when second in the 2011 Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) behind Glass Harmonium.
His figure sits above the previous five-year-average for the Sydney Cup which has undergone a mini revival in its past two renewals.
A winning figure of 119 is one pound shy of what Niwot ran to when claiming last year’s Sydney Cup.
It hasn’t been since the days of Tie The Knot in 1998 and 1999 a Sydney Cup winner has recorded such winning figures.
A rising eight-year-old, race options appear limited for Mourayan and goes to the paddock following last Saturday’s win.
He will be given a touch over a month off before joining stablemates such as Green Moon, Seville, Sea Moon, Hartani and Massiyn among others in readiness for a spring preparation.
While Team Williams’ top-liners contest Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in the spring, Mourayan will reportedly be aimed at the Moonee Valley Cup (2500m).
Only lightly raced, Mourayan could easily return to Sydney to defend his cup in 12 months time considering the knack Team Williams have in successfully prolonging the careers of their stable stars.
Zipping was rising ten when he was retired while 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient was retired as a nine-year-old last spring with only 29 race starts to his name.
Efficient’s second last career outing was a brave second in the 2012 Sydney Cup where he was only beaten a long neck carrying the topweight of 58kg.
While falling short of victory, the ghostly grey still returned a Timeform figure of 125, the equal second highest figure run to in the Sydney Cup over the past two decades alongside 1996 winner Count Chivas.
Mourayan’s racetrack performances also pave the way for a potential stud career and the Aga Khan bred galloper could add some staying depth to Australia’s stallion ranks over the coming seasons.