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With the Epsom Derby on the horizon, the flat season continues to gain pace with the first Group 1 of the season for older horses, the Lockinge, taking place at Newbury this Saturday (14:35).
This year’s renewal looks an absolute belter and one of real quality, as evidenced by a horse as good as Notable Speech being as big as 9/2. Last year’s BC Turf Mile winner goes there with an excellent chance at the weights and really should have won last time out at Keeneland.
He takes on a couple of really exciting up and coming horses. Zeus Olympios lost his unbeaten record at Sandown last time out but should strip fitter for that and he looked very good when beating Opera Ballo last season.
Damysus will likely start favourite. This son of Frankel failed to beat a rival in the Derby last year but has since won all three starts and looked better than ever when slamming a good yardstick on his seasonal debut.
The Childwickbury Stud Fillies’ Trial Stakes (14:00) doesn’t look a strong renewal and Golden Orbit might be much better than these. She looks a likely Oaks type on breeding and profile and looked very promising when winning her only start to date last September.
Finally, the Carnarvon Stakes (15:10) looks a good opportunity for Albert Einstein to get back to winning ways. This highly touted sort has been brought along steadily this year and looks ready to fire his best shot here dropped back to sprinting on his third start of the season.
There is some excellent action in Ireland on Sunday with a strong card at Naas. The Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint Stakes (16:26) should provide Royal Ascot clues, with five unbeaten fillies taking each other on. Victorious, from the Aidan O’Brien yard, and Velozee, for the up and coming Paddy Twomey, head the market.
The Sole Power Sprint Stakes (17:26) sees Mission Central return to the track. This No Nay Never gelding isn’t the most consistent – as seen when bombing out in the Juvenile Turf Sprint last year – but won on his comeback and should really follow up here
Race Of The Weekend
Sandwiched between those two contests is the Goffs Lacken Stakes (16:56) which looks like a cracking renewal. Charles Darwin heads the market following a workmanlike comeback but he looked right out of the top drawer last season and should step forward significantly. His main rival is Royal Bay Cen, who looked seriously good when demolishing a Listed field by 9 lengths on his stable debut at Cork last time (ground will be quicker here). Havana Ana, Group 1 placed as a juvenile, also makes her seasonal bow in a fascinating contest.
Horse To Watch
Kalpana returns on the Lockinge undercard in the Aston park Stakes (13:25). This brilliant mare looks like she will once again be pointed at backend targets such as the Arc and she should get her season off to a winning start.
