Having taken a more prominent role at Roger Varian’s stable this season, Ray Dawson is aiming for a breakthrough Group 1 success and believes Yorkshire Cup winner Rahiebb can get him over the line.
Dawson was a nose away from an inaugural Group 1 when second on Rahiebb in the St Leger last season. The son of Frankel returned in strong form, comfortably landing the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup Stakes. Such a promising performance can enable connections to dream big this season, with Dawson and Varian’s relationship continuing to blossom.
Speaking to the Racing Post, Ray Dawson said: “It’s great for myself, Roger and the whole yard to be getting the season off to a good start. I know the yard and everyone in it very well, and Roger and I have a good relationship. It’s just nice to be getting the opportunities on his better horses. It’s great it’s gone this well so far.”
Dawson has a 21.43% win rate for the yard this year, three in the colours of Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum. Dawson continued: “There’s lots to look forward to and it’s always nice to have people backing you. I’ve been riding for Roger for a few years now, so we understand each other. It’s nice he’s put me in this position this year, and getting big winners is how I repay him.”
“He’s an absolute monster” – Ray Dawson
On his latest big winner, Rahiebb, Dawson said: He’s an absolute monster. He’s a big horse and we were very impressed with him in the St Leger last year. But I think he’s improved. He’s more mature in his racing and what surprised me a little bit was the gears he had at York. He showed a really good turn of foot when I needed him to. He showed he’s stepped up.”
That turn of foot could be crucial to an inaugural Group 1 for Dawson, who deliberates the Gold Cup. “I think he’s cruise around in a Gold Cup. He’d get two miles no problem and I think he’d stay the trip. Although it’s very hard to know because there’s only one race like that on the Flat. “When you get into the last two furlongs it’s an unknown. But the feeling he gave me the other day was that he was staying all day long, no problem.”
Another progressive four-year-old colt is Saddadd, who successfully reappeared at Sandown in the Gordon Richards Stakes for Varian and Dawson. Dawson said: “Saddadd felt great at Sandown and he’d have needed the run. Is he a Group 1 horse? We’ll find out, but they’re aiming that way and he’s a lovely, kind horse who gives his all.
“Winning a Group 1 is something I’m aiming for and I’ve got a great chance of getting it this year. It’s something I really want to get, and then we can move on to finding another one.”