shengai enki

Trained by Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole in Worcestershire, the five-year-old Shengai Enki is an unexposed hurdler who is sure to go on and win plenty of races.

A French-bred son of the successful NH sire Buck’s Boum, a Gr.1-placed brother to the legendary Big Buck’s and sire of the dual Gr.1 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo, Shengai Enki was bought by Deva Racing Director Ryan Tongue and Grand National winner Dr Newland at the Goffs UK Spring HIT/PTP Sale in May 2023. 

Previously trained in Ireland, he had finished in mid-division in a typically informative bumper at the Punchestown Festival and third in another bumper at Kelso shortly afterwards. He would make his debut for Deva Racing in a Uttoxeter novice hurdle in July of last year, shaping with a good deal of promise in finishing fourth behind the now 120+ rated Liverpool Knight (Golden Horn) but just fading late on as he needed the run. 

He was then runner-up at Worcester and Fontwell later in the summer, travelling strongly on both occasions and doing well to overcome a lost shoe in the latter race, before being put away for the winter. Returning on better ground this spring, he was third in a 2m4½f novices’ handicap at Huntingdon and filled the same position when stepped up to just shy of 3m at Fakenham.

Dr Newland held Shengai Enki in the highest regard shortly after his purchase, commenting: ‘Shengai Enki is a very interesting new horse. He’s very well put together and has shown very good form in Ireland. I think he is a really nice recruit and down the line I think he is good enough to be a high-class winter NH horse.’  

A hurdles mark of 99 clearly underestimates Shengai Enki’s ability, as he has been mixing it with horses now rated significantly higher. His pedigree also indicates he can go on to better things, as he is a son of the Listed-placed mare Lady Needles (Sri Pekan) and a half-brother to the bumper/hurdles/chase winner Travail D’Orfevre (Martaline).

We retain plenty of faith in Shengai Enki and look forward to him winning races soon.