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Mulryan's French stayer brings back memories of Istabraq

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Sadler's Wells gelding has the attributes of a World Hurdle winner, says La Casaque Noire

It may be hard to believe, but the leading jumps owner here is not French, but Irish - none other than self-made millionaire builder Sean Mulryan.

In recent years he has invested large sums (but not huge by bloodstock standards) this side of the Channel. Success has quickly followed, but after achieving Champion Jumps Owner status last year, he has also turned his attention to the flat. This week saw one of the first yearlings he bought achieve near favouritism for the Derby - yes, the Epsom Derby not the French equivalent!

Thewayyouare, a son of Kingmambo, is the horse in question. He showed excellent battling qualities, over what looked a minimum trip for him, when a decisive winner of the Group One Criterium International over a mile at Saint-Cloud this week.

He's a top-class colt that was the subject of "silly money" rumours before the race, with the likes of Sheikh Mohammed in the hunt to buy him. However, after the race it was revealed that Coolmore had secured the stallion services after his racing career, something that explains the shock non-participation of three Aidan O'Brien entries in the same race.

Aside from the anti-competition arguments, it does mean that British race-goers are likely to see a lot of the colt next year. But is he up to winning the Derby? Well, although being by Kingmambo, he looks like a middle-distance horse rather than a miler. His dam-side says he'll stay, his half-sister being none other than Peeping Fawn. And he's clearly a bit more precocious than her (she didn't run until the spring of her third year), so Epsom looks an obvious target.

Indeed it's hard to argue that those investing in the current (18.5) on Betfair aren't giving themselves a decent early Christmas present. I'd take him over New Approach at more than three times the price any day.

The other Mulryan to catch the eye this week was the six-year-old Sadler's Wells gelding Zaiyad. He's a beautifully bred Aga Khan product, and other than the fact that they share the same sire, he reminds me in many ways of Istabraq - despite having won six of his 11 flat races, he doesn't have the speed of that champion, but definitely has similar amounts of class. He hacked-up in the Grade One Grand Prix d'Automne at Auteuil on Saturday, a performance which had to be seen to be believed, as the official six lengths way understated his superiority.

After the race our old friend Jacques "catch-a-cab" Ricou likened him not to the former Champion Hurdler, but to an extra-terrestrial. In any case, we are in agreement that he's out of this world! According to my reliable sources, he'll be seen in England at least once before an attempt at the World Hurlde at Cheltenham next March. If there's any rain around next spring, he might prove a cracking bet at the current (38), possibly even lining-up as favourite. If not, in a weak-looking division, he should still prove a decent trading proposition.