Wide course proves no problem for Shining Blue at Meydan

Shining Blue returned to the level of form that saw him win his first three career starts as he overcame an errant passage to take the closing seven-furlong turf handicap at Meydan, UAE, on Friday, 20 January.

Showing good speed from the gates, the son of Exceed And Excel disputed the early running before being sent on into a length advantage by Danny Tudhope.

Shining Blue veered wide entering the home straight but the manoeuvre failed to halt his momentum, with the Saeed bin Suroor-trained four-year-old bounding further clear approaching the final furlong.

The Godolphin homebred had plenty in reserve to see off the late charge of Spirit Of Light and prevail by half a length, with another length and a quarter back to New Kingdom in third.

Saeed bin Suroor said: “Shining Blue won nicely. We will have a look at the Listed Business Bay Challenge over the same distance in three weeks and see how we get on there, but he is a nice horse who is going the right way.”

Danny Tudhope added: “Shining Blue is a big, strong, powerful horse who likes to get on with things. He just needs to learn to relax, as he overdoes things and makes life tough for himself.

“I think he may have had one or two runs that overdid things last year and that lit him up a bit. He is still a big baby.

“He did not handle the bend and was having a look, but he found plenty for me. It just shows that he must have a lot of ability.”