Having been purchased for 170,000gns at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale at Tattersalls by John Ferguson on behalf of Sheikh Mohammad, the colt that was to be named Rio De La Plata took up residence at the Newmarket headquarters of the Godolphin training operation. Just two months later, he was deemed ready to make his debut and word had clearly spread about the natural ability he had shown since being broken at Bansha House Stables as he was sent off at 11/10 for a competitive 6f maiden at Newmarket. Unfortunately, inexperience proved to be his downfall on the day as he could only finish a never-nearer third, but the promise of the run was there for all to see and it wasn’t long before he delivered on it. In fact, just three weeks later he was turned out of a 7f maiden at Newmarket and he made all for a highly-impressive five lengths win, narrowly failing to lower the track record.

His next start came three weeks later at Glorious Goodwood in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes and such was the impression he created when winning his maiden, he was sent off at 8/13 to prevail. Ridden with much more restraint on this occasion, he showed a blistering turn of foot to cut down the field 2f out and despite still looking a bit green in front, he didn’t need to be anywhere near fully extended to beat Lizard Island by two lengths, earning a Timeform rating of 117p in the process. His next port of call was a red-hot renewal of the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh with the unbeaten pair of New Approach and Myboycharlie in opposition. With New Approach setting what was a modest early pace, Rio De La Plata was disadvantaged by racing in rear early, but he still showed his abundant acceleration to go in pursuit of the subsequent Epsom Derby winner in the final 1f. However, he just had too much ground to make up and Dettori accepted defeat in the final strides. This performance was enough to warrant a Timeform rating of 120p, with a suspicion that he would have been closer had he been ridden more positively early.

Just three weeks later, Rio De La Plata was sent in pursuit of Group 1 compensation when lining up for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) at Longchamp on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day. Sent off at 8/13, he didn’t have to come out of third gear to quicken clear in the final 1f and prevail by an easy 2½l from Declaration Of War. 

A mere fortnight later, Rio De La Plata was sent to Newmarket to contest what was an exceptional renewal of Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. Unfortunately though, the good-to-soft going that prevailed on the day had a blunting effect on Rio De La Plata’s now trademark turn of foot and while he ran a typically game race, he was below his best in finishing 5½l fourth to New Approach.

He finished the season with a Timeform rating of 120+, making him the fifth highest rated two-year-old in Europe. He stood up well to what was a busy campaign, showing a game attitude and abundant natural speed.

Unfortunately, Rio De La Plata’s Classic year was very truncated, with him having a number of minor setbacks that saw him being restricted to just three starts. The first of those starts came in the French 2000 Guineas and he ran a race full of promise, finishing strongly from the rear to take second place behind Falco. After that, Godolphin gave into the temptation to run him in the Epsom Derby, despite his abundant speed suggesting that he was far from certain to stay the 12f. As it turned out, he ran a very game race, getting into a challenging position until his stamina gave out just inside the 2f pole. Just over a month later he was returned to 8f to contest a red-hot renewal of the Prix Jean Prat and he returned to his best to finish a never-nearer third to Tamayuz, finishing just ½-length behind the brilliant Ravens Pass.

Frustratingly, just as he was back to his best, injury-related problems emerged once again and it would be another 14 months before the classy son of Rahy would grace a racecourse. When he eventually made it back to the track, soft ground proved his undoing in a listed race at Haydock, but he showed that form to be all wrong when returned to more suitable going on his next start. Contesting a Group 3 at Newmarket, he ran the smart Confront to ½-length, despite not enjoying the clearest of runs. He was below his best on his final start of 2009, with his stamina looking to give way over 9f in a Group 3 at Newmarket.

It has been a great pity that Rio De La Plata has not enjoyed an uninterrupted season since his brilliant juvenile campaign, but 2010 could well be the year that we finally get to see the very best of this highly-talented performer.