shengai enki
The six-year-old Buck’s Boum gelding Shengai Enki has been a real moneyspinner since joining Deva Racing and is only just getting started. He is trained by Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole in Worcestershire.
His sire, a Gr.1-placed full-brother to the outstanding staying hurdler Big Buck’s, is responsible for the dual Gr.1 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo and the Gr.1 Arkle Chase winner Duc des Genievres, amongst many others. The dam, Lady Needles, was Listed-placed on the Flat and is also responsible for the black-type-placed French jumper Pao Enki.
Beginning his career in Ireland, Shengai Enki made his debut in a Naas bumper in February 2023, attracting market support before running satisfactorily, then comfortably outran odds of 80/1 when midfield in a 22-runner affair at the Punchestown Festival. He finished third in the Scottish Borders at Kelso on his third and final bumper outing and was purchased by Deva Racing’s Ryan Tongue and Dr Newland at the Goffs UK Spring Horses-In-Training Sale a fortnight later.
Fourth on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter in July 2023, Shengai Enki then finished placed in four consecutive starts, displaying his versatility with regards to trip and ground, before deservedly earning his first career win in a 2m7½f handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter on the 4th of May last year.
Prominently ridden by Champion Amateur Alex Chadwick, he forged clear before two out to win by five lengths, looking like a strong stayer. Champion Jockey Harry Cobden took the reins for the follow-up bid a few weeks later, all the way back down to 2m and returning to novice company at Worcester, and Shengai Enki duly delivered the goods once more, recovering from being hampered at the first to win by four and a half lengths.
That audacious bit of race-planning qualified Shengai Enki for the £70k Fixed Brush Final at Worcester in September, and he acquitted himself with real credit in finishing sixth behind the subsequent Gr.2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle winner, Flying Fortune.
Shengai Enki was a little below par on his final start of last year, but as a consequence, he will start 2025 as an extremely well-handicapped horse. He was pushed up to a rating of 115 immediately after his Worcester win in June, so a current rating of 108 looks ripe for exploitation, and he still has bundles of improvement to come. A horse we remain really excited about.