O’Brien bidding to continue 1000 Guineas domination

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Aidan O’Brien has won the Qipco 1000 Guineas five times in the last seven years and the master of Ballydoyle will go in search of his eighth victory overall in the Newmarket Classic with Breeders’ Cup heroine Meditate.

A regular in the big races last term, the daughter of No Nay Never won the Albany at Royal Ascot and a Group Two at the Curragh before finishing second behind reopposing duo Tahiyra and Lezoo in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Cheveley Park respectively.

Then came Meditate’s moment of truth at Keeneland when she put herself in the 1000 Guineas picture by triumphing on her first try at a mile.

“We weren’t sure, going to America, whether she would stay or not and it was on a bend. We took our time on her, it was her first time going over a mile and she won very easily,” said O’Brien.

“We ran her over seven (furlongs) at the Curragh on soft ground and we rode her very forward. She ran a very good race, but Dermot’s filly came and got her so we went to America.

“Obviously it was up in trip again, Ryan (Moore) took his time on her and she relaxed lovely, but came home very well. That’s going to be an interesting one, there’s a big difference in the track in America – a flat, round track – and a straight track like Newmarket.

“We’re going to learn a lot about her, she’s a very lazy worker at home who only shows you what she has to. Unless you stoke her up she just stays in second gear really, but we’re very happy with her work.”

One man to briefly halt O’Brien’s recent dominance is Richard Hannon with Billesdon Brook in 2018 and he is double-handed this time with Mammas Girl and Powerdress.

Mammas Girl ridden by jockey Sean Levey on their way to winning the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes
Mammas Girl ridden by jockey Sean Levey on their way to winning the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (Tim Goode/PA)

Mammas Girl landed the Nell Gwyn last month and although unproven over a mile, is unbeaten in two starts at the track.

“She obviously won the Nell Gwyn and is unbeaten,” said Tom Pennington, racing and operations manager at Amo Racing.

“She goes there having won twice at the track and some experts have said she is not going to get the trip, but I disagree. In her two starts, her last furlong has been her best and she has hit the line strong both times. She’s a relaxed and laid-back filly and I really don’t see the mile being an issue.

“She will be held up and ridden patiently to come with one late run like she has done both times. She’s just ticked over since the Nell Gwyn and Richard is very happy with her.

“To go there with a leading contender is really exciting and she goes there with a good chance.”

Amo also have a useful second string to their bow with Olivia Maralda, who will make her first start for Roger Varian.

“She’s not a bad second string to have and I think she is too big a price if you think she ran Meditate to three-quarters of a length in Ireland last year,” continued Pennington.

“She hasn’t missed a day with Roger and he’s really pleased with her. Whether she is good enough to win, who knows, but she goes there in good form.”

Ralph Beckett hit the crossbar with Prosperous Voyage in this 12 months ago and along with owners Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen will attempt to go one better with Lezoo – who will be a final 1000 Guineas ride for Frankie Dettori.

“We thought about a trial, but she’s pretty experienced and she’s not a filly who needs a race,” said Beckett ahead of the Qipco British Champions Series contest.

Lezoo winning the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket
Lezoo winning the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket (David Davies/PA)

“We decided it was likely to prove inconclusive with regards to her stamina, and that it made more sense to run her in the Guineas and find out for sure one way or another, then drop her back to sprints if she didn’t stay. She’s had a pretty straightforward preparation and she’s ready for this. She did her last bit on the grass on Tuesday and that went well.”

The handler is also represented by Fred Darling scorer Remarquee, who will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Beckett’s first Classic winner Look Here and land big-race success for owner Julian Richmond-Watson.

He continued: “Remarquee is the obvious one. She didn’t really get the run of the race and Rob (Hornby) dropped his stick with half a furlong to run, yet she still won with one ear pricked, having wandered around. She’ll have learned a lot.

“We’ve been here before, having won a few Fred Darlings, and it can be tough getting a filly back in time for the Guineas, but all of the signs are good. She didn’t have a hard race and I’m very happy with her.”

Hugo Palmer’s Stenton Glider had to settle for the silver medal behind Remarquee at Newbury and will now attempt to turn the tables as the duo move up to a mile.

He said: “She’s in great form. I just flicked through the 21st century winners of the 1000 Guineas and from what I can see, 10 of the winners had trialled and only four of those winners who trialled had actually won their trial.

“More horses have been beaten in their trial than won their trial.

“She was beaten two-foot at Newbury and so we’re going to give it a very good go.”

Also beaten in her trial was Clive Cox’s Nell Gwyn fourth Karsavina.

“I’m really pleased with her and she’s a progressive filly,” said Cox.

“The Nell Gwyn was precisely as it was intended as a trial and I feel she has come back really well from there.

“An extra furlong will be most helpful. She has a lot of class and moved up well through the race in the Nell Gwyn and I’m looking forward to seeing her going another furlong.”

One horse proven over the track and trip is Caernarfon, winner of the Montrose Fillies’ Stakes last autumn.

That victory was the perfect way for Mick Channon to bow out – while it would prove fitting if she kick-started the training career of his son Jack on her very next start.

“She is in great form and trained really well all winter and her work, touch wood, has been perfect. I think we’ve got her exactly where we want her and it will be down to simply whether she is good enough now,” said the West Ilsley handler.

“I always thought she had plenty of experience. It is not like she’s won her maiden and that’s all there is. She had a decent amount of experience as a two-year-old, she won over course and distance last time and she is not a filly who is too hard to get fit.

“She looks to have improved and she is not the most imposing type, but she is very athletic and I could not be any happier with her at this moment in time.”

Fabre fires twin assault on Dahlia Stakes

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Andre Fabre is double-handed in the Howden Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday with Life In Motion and Hidden Dimples both bidding for Group Two honours.

The master trainer has won the nine-furlong contest twice before, with Esoterique in 2014 and Usherette two years later.

Like Usherette, Life In Motion is owned by Godolphin and has won four of her last five outings, progressing nicely with each run.

Hidden Dimples, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore with Mickael Barzalona on Life In Motion, finished third behind her stablemate last time out in a Listed race at ParisLongchamp – but Fabre expects the distance between the pair to be narrowed on this occasion.

“It looks an interesting race for both of them. They both ran in a Listed race at Longchamp last time out, which Life In Motion won,” said Fabre.

“They are two nice mares. Hidden Dimples spent the winter at the farm, so she needed the race much more than the other one. She’s a solid mare.

“They should both run well. Life In Motion did well at three and that has continued. She did not have an injury last summer, there were just no suitable races for her and then I brought her back in the autumn to win twice.”

With The Moonlight last ran in America
With The Moonlight last ran in America (Tim Goode/PA)

Charlie Appleby’s With The Moonlight, last seen finishing second in a Grade One in America will also sport the Godolphin blue.

Roger Varian’s Al Husn is unbeaten but this represents a major step up in class. She is owned by Shadwell, who also run the John and Thady Gosden-trained Shaara.

Ralph Beckett’s Prosperous Voyage, second in the 1000 Guineas last season and winner of the Falmouth, also runs with Astral Beau, Random Harvest and Via Sistina completing the line up.

Chaldean presents Dettori with final 2000 Guineas strike

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Frankie Dettori won the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Chaldean on what was his final ride in the Classic.

The Italian is retiring at the end of the current season and knew he had one more shot at glory in the historic race, to add to his three previous victories in the mile contest.

Never far from the pace, Chaldean (7-2) took a lead off Hi Royal who was just about still in front when he veered across the track, which enabled Dettori to forge into the lead.

The Andrew Balding-trained winner had to dig deep, but he eventually came home a length-and-three-quarter winner from 125-1 shot Hi Royal. Royal Scotsman (11-1) was third with 150-1 chance Galeron in fourth.

Auguste Rodin was sent off the 13-8 favourite but was never travelling for Ryan Moore and trailed home well beaten.

With rain falling throughout the day, the ground had turned soft and the likes of Little Big Bear and Sakheer, who had to prove their stamina, drifted markedly in the betting.

On the other hand Chaldean was well supported, from 5-1 to 7-2 and Dettori always looked comfortable.

Hi Royal briefly gave him something to think about and really stretched the field, with all bar the winner and Royal Scotsman treading water.

Chaldean strode out purposefully, though, to give Balding a second 2000 Guineas success after Kameko in 2020. The famous Juddmonte colours were last carried to glory by the brilliant Frankel, Chaldean’s sire, in 2011.

Dettori said: “I was in a fight with Oisin (Murphy on Hi Royal) and once I got rid of him, I thought ‘I’m sure something is going to come’, but I saw plenty of daylight.

“I can’t believe it’s happened really. My last (2000) Guineas, to win it in front of my home crowd, amazing.

“Winning Classics is difficult. It’s my last season and to cap it off with a Classic is beyond my wildest dreams.”

Balding said: “I was a bit worried about the mile in this ground, but he’s just done a wonderful job, Frankie. We’re making the most of our unconventional prep race (unseated in the Greenham), we might set a trend there!

Andrew Balding was winning his second 2000 Guineas
Andrew Balding was winning his second 2000 Guineas (David Davies/PA)

“It was a concern beforehand, but it did him some good because he got out there. I’m just thrilled, what a brilliant ride.

“What can’t you say about Frankie? Since I’ve been involved in the sport he’s been an omnipresent superstar of the sport and what a fitting way to ride his last 2000 Guineas.

“He always looked to be travelling comfortably, I was just a bit worried about getting past Oisin (Murphy, on Hi Royal) because he can get extra lengths out of horse but once we collared him, I was fairly confident.

“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long while, it’s a mixture of relief and elation. It will probably sink in in a bit, it’s a big deal.”

Of next steps for the colt, Balding added: “Let’s enjoy today but Ascot (St James’s Palace Stakes) would seem the obvious target.

Chaldean passes the post
Chaldean passes the post (David Davies/PA)

“He is in the Irish 2,000 Guineas but he has had a hard race today and giving him as much time between races would be sensible.

“If we did go up in trip, I would imagine it wouldn’t be until York (Juddmonte International).”

Chaldean is owned by Juddmonte, the racing and breeding operation founded by the late Prince Khalid Abdullah.

Prince Saud, Abdullah’s son, said of the victory: “I have to say we have seen the best of the horse today against his own capabilities and traits and I’m very happy to win it.

“I just want to thank and congratulate Frankie.

“I would also like to congratulate the trainer as he has done a great job. I want to thank everyone in Juddmonte as they have done a splendid job.”

Caroline Street advertises Classic credentials at Naas

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Caroline Street led home a Joseph O’Brien one-two in the Al Shira’aa Racing Irish EBF Blue Wind Stakes at Naas.

The winner was sent off at 11-2 under Dylan Browne McMonagle her seasonal bow, with the No Nay Never three-year-old racing at the back of the field before finding space down the middle of the track to throw down a challenge.

Lumiere Rock, her fast-finishing stablemate, joined her in the final half furlong under a penalty but could not pass her and was beaten by half a length.

“It was a great result, they are two very nice fillies,” said O’Brien.

“I thought Lumiere Rock, carrying a penalty, hit the line really well and she looks like she’s crying out for a mile and a half.

“I was quite impressed with Caroline Street. When Dylan asked for a bit of gas at the bottom of the straight, he was nearly taking her back then again when he was waiting for room.

“It was a lovely ride, he was cool. We were going a mile and a quarter and she’s a No Nay Never, so we were riding her patiently and he gave her a lovely, confident ride.”

When it was put to him she would get further, he added: “She potentially would.

“We might look at the Pretty Polly and we’ll have a look at the Irish 1,000 Guineas. There is the Saratoga Oaks in the autumn that would be a nice target for her, over a mile and a quarter, but she will have to go somewhere between now and then.

“She’s handled soft so I think she’s pretty versatile ground wise.”

Devious made light work of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for Gavin Ryan and Donnacha O’Brien.

The Starspangledbanner two-year-old was making his debut and started as the 11-5 favourite for the contest, odds he justified with a convincing two-length success that could pave the way to Royal Ascot.

“He’s always worked like a fair one. He shouldn’t be that fast being that big and strong, I’d say he’s a proper one,” said O’Brien.

“I was thinking coming here today that we could look at the Coventry but showing the speed that he did, we could look at the Norfolk maybe instead.

“We have nothing that can take him off the bridle at home, he’s just natural.

“He’s got so much boot that the nice ground helps him, but he would get slower ground as well as he’s big and powerful.

“The two-year-olds are in good form and we’ve some nice older ones, so we’ve had a good start.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Johannes Brahms also made a winning debut under Seamie Heffernan in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.

The Siyouni colt was the 5-6 favourite for the six-furlong contest and was a half-length winner.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He’s a smashing colt, he’s got plenty of size about him and has a lot of class and speed.

“He showed a bit of greenness throughout, at home they haven’t been off the bridle, and the penny hasn’t dropped with this fella yet. There is a lot to like about him.

“Seamus thought he had plenty of gears for a horse his size and he cruises very well.

“We’ll try to get one more run into him before Ascot and he’s one to look forward to.”

Vadream swoops late to grab Palace prize

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Vadream came from way off the pace to catch the long-time leader Live In The Dream and win the Howden Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.

The mare had won the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on Lincoln day but she finished in mid-division when sent out again quickly six days later for All-Weather Finals Day.

Having her first run over the minimum distance in this Group Three, she was perhaps not surprisingly taken off her feet in the early stages.

Part of the reason for that was the lightning pace set by Live In The Dream, who had everything on the stretch going into the dip.

Just when it looked as if Sean Kirrane was going to be celebrating the biggest winner of his career on Adam West’s speedster, Charlie Fellowes’ mare began to hit top gear.

Kieran Shoemark, who now has a 100 per cent record on her from two attempts, brought Vadream with a withering run nearest to the stands and the 7-1 shot got up by half a length. Manaccan was third.

Fellowes said: “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t delighted when the rain came last night and then more this morning.

“She just loves it (soft ground). She’s a very good mare, but she has to have her conditions and she got them today.

“I’d say the Duke of York (May 17)_is unlikely, it probably comes a bit soon. We’ll just run her where the conditions are right as she’s very clearly best on good to soft or softer.

“When she gets her conditions, she’s going to be very dangerous in whatever race she turns up in.”

Azure Blue shines in Chaloner contest

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Azure Blue continued her love affair with Newmarket in the Howden British EBF Ellen Chaloner Stakes.

The Michael Dods-trained filly returned to Headquarters unbeaten in two previous outings on the Rowley Mile, while she also has a victory at the July Course on her CV.

Making her first appearance since landing the Boadicea Stakes in October, the four-year-old was a 7-2 joint-favourite to claim another Listed prize and after travelling powerfully to the lead, she had kept enough up her sleeve to repel the late challenge of her market rival Heredia by half a length.

Dods said: “We’ve been delighted with her at home and she was fit enough to run, but we do think there’s quite a bit of improvement to come.

“Paul (Mulrennan) had ridden her in a few bits of work and was very happy with her and she does seem to have speeded up a lot since last season.”

Azure Blue holds an entry in the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes at York on May 17, but is not certain to make the trip to the Knavesmire.

“It was an early closing race so we put her in it. I’ll speak to the owner and see,” Dods added.

“She’s a big filly who wouldn’t want the ground too fast, so where she goes will depend on the ground.”

Charlie Appleby’s King Of Conquest denied the King a winner on his coronation day in the nine-furlong Howden Suffolk Stakes.

The winner was a 7-1 shot to supplement a winter success in Bahrain and knuckled down for William Buick to deny Frankie Dettori aboard Saga by a head.

Appleby said: “He’s a horse who ran well to finish second here in soft ground last year and when he won in Bahrain, Richie (Mullen, jockey) said he hated the ground and was crying out to step up in trip.

“Today the plan was to be positive on him as I was confident with the ground and I was confident with the way that William was going to ride him that they’d have to outstay him.

“We haven’t really planned beyond this, but I’d say he’s a good handicapper – he’s going to have to improve a good bit to be a black type horse.”

Probe claimed a lucrative victory at Newmarket
Probe claimed a lucrative victory at Newmarket (Nigel French/PA)

Probe (15-2) provided trainer Jennie Candlish with her first Newmarket winner in the £100,000 Howden Handicap under Kieran O’Neill.

Candlish’s partner and assistant, Alan O’Keeffe, said: “I’m happy because he’s a proper horse, he’s always showed us that.

“We thought he was better than his rating. We haven’t got many Flat horses, but Jennie does a good job with them, whether they’re three-mile chasers or six-furlong sprinters.

“These are the places you want to be and it’s great for a yard like ours.”

Teumessias Fox won the opening race at Newmarket on Saturday
Teumessias Fox won the opening race at Newmarket on Saturday (Nigel French/PA)

A 10lb rise in the weights for was not enough to prevent Andrew Balding’s 100-30 favourite Teumessias Fox making it back-to-back wins in the Howden Handicap.

The four-year-old bolted up on his first start since being gelded at Kempton in March and followed up with a comfortable three-and-a-quarter-length success in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

Balding said: “He’s a horse we thought a lot of last year, he ran in a Derby trial at one stage and sort of lost his way after (Royal) Ascot.

“He’s been gelded and had a good break and I think we’ve learnt he wants his races spaced out.

“Hopefully he doesn’t go up too much to get into one of the Ascot handicaps. I would have thought the mile and a half (Duke of Edinburgh Stakes), but we’ll probably put him in the Copper Horse as well.”

Saga just fails in quest for coronation day victory

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Saga narrowly failed to give the King and Queen a winner on their coronation day after he was beaten in a photo at Newmarket.

Partnered by Frankie Dettori, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Saga was sent off an 8-1 shot for the Howden Suffolk Stakes.

He travelled well throughout the contest, but Dettori briefly struggled to find a clear passage when the race began in earnest and while Saga made up significant ground in the closing stages of the nine-furlong affair, King Of Conquest had already flown.

Saga was beaten a head at the line, with the four-year-old going down by the same distance when bidding to give the late Queen a final Royal Ascot win in the Britannia Stakes last term.

Dettori said: “Almost! He ran a super race, I couldn’t go when I wanted to and William (Buick) got a couple of lengths on me, but he ran a super race.

“Oh yes (it was a thrill to wear these colours). I watched the whole thing (coronation) this morning, it was pretty special wasn’t it? I know I’m old, but I’ve not seen one before!”

Gosden said: “He ran great. It wasn’t his fault, he didn’t get the gap in time. William (Buick) got first run (on King Of Conquest) and we had to wait to get through and then he ran out of real estate at the end, but he ran a super race.

“He was slightly unfortunate not to get there but it’s nobody’s fault, that’s racing. We’ll probably step up to a mile and a quarter and take it from there.”

The Richard Hughes-trained Candle Of Hope had earlier finished fourth in the same colours in the Listed William Hill Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood.

Roman Mist makes all to claim Conqueror success

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Roman Mist and Hollie Doyle made every yard of the running to secure Listed glory in the William Hill Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood.

Having her first run for Archie Watson since being bought out of Tom Ward’s yard for 360,000 guineas by David Howden, Roman Mist (7-1) showed a determined attitude to fend off the persistent challenge of Zellie, who finished fourth in the 1000 Guineas last year, by a neck.

The eyecatcher of the race was Henry Candy’s Araminta, who only made a winning debut 15 days previously yet she flashed home for third, gaining valuable black type.

Doyle told Racing TV: “I’d ridden her before and she’s a very tough filly.

“She got an easy lead today. We didn’t know about the ground with it being heavy now and her coming back from a lay off.

“She probably got very tired at the furlong pole, but she dug deep for me. Zellie was a useful filly in France and probably liked the ground more than my filly.

“It’s a good training performance and lovely to be riding winners for Mr Howden again.”

The Richard Hughes-trained Candle Of Hope was bidding to give the King a winner on coronation day, but the 18-1 shot could finish only a tired fourth, with 7-4 favourite Potapova pulled up on heavy ground.

Proud And Regal out to book Derby ticket

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The Betfred Derby eluded Donnacha O’Brien as a jockey, but he could take one step closer to the Epsom winners’ enclosure as a trainer on Sunday when Proud And Regal reappears in the Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown.

The Galileo colt was the most consistent of juveniles last season and after winning the Tyros Stakes at the Dublin track on his second outing, he went on to finish third in the Futurity Stakes before chasing home Al Riffa in the Group One National Stakes.

He went one place better when finishing off his campaign with a top-table success in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud and is reported to have done well, with his handler keen to see if he can become a real contender for the premier Classic on June 3.

“He’s wintered well, he’s done very well over the winter,” said O’Brien.

“We’re not 100 per cent sure what his trip is going to be, whether he will be a 10- or 12-furlong horse or maybe even he drops back to a mile, but it is great to get him started. He’s in good form and ready to run.

“The downside of winning a Group One (at two) is you have a penalty in a lot of the trials, so we just had to wait for this one which he didn’t have a penalty in and suited him well. But for sure he is an exciting horse and we’re looking forward to him running.

Proud And Regal is an exciting colt
Proud And Regal is an exciting colt (PA)

“The hope is that he becomes a Derby horse, that’s the dream, but I guess we will find out more on Sunday. If he goes and wins well, we will for sure have to have a look at Epsom, but if he didn’t we may have to alter our plans.”

If O’Brien and Proud And Regal are to prove successful in this 10-furlong Group Three, they will need to end father Aidan’s four-year winning run in the race and the master of Ballydoyle boasts strong representation once again.

Londoner carries the highest rating of his trio based on his Longchamp fourth when beaten less than two lengths in the Prix Noailles, while Tower Of London and Mohawk Chief are the others in the mix as the handler seeks his 16th win in the race.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien will be bidding for his 16th victory in the Derby Trial Stakes
Trainer Aidan O’Brien will be bidding for his 16th victory in the Derby Trial Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

Although a maiden, Joseph O’Brien’s Up And Under finished second in the Ballysax Stakes over course and distance last month and has shown a great deal of ability in two starts to date, with Goldenstatewarrior an interesting proposition pitched into deeper waters following a battling debut victory at Gowran for Johnny Murtagh.

Jessica Harrington’s Sprewell and Joseph Murphy’s Mr Lincoln complete the line-up and are both stepping up in trip having started the campaign with wins at a mile.

Stoute-trained Infinite Cosmos rockets to Oaks favouritism

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Infinite Cosmos is the new favourite for next month’s Betfred Oaks following an impressive display on her seasonal reappearance at Newmarket.

Narrowly beaten on her debut at Doncaster in the autumn, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained daughter of Sea The Stars was already a single-figure price for the Epsom Classic with some bookmakers ahead of her return in the Nyetimber Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

With Ryan Moore in the plate, Infinite Cosmos was the 8-11 favourite to cement her Classic claims and did so in some style, overcoming signs of inexperience to score by just over four lengths.

Stoute did his best to downplay her performance in the immediate aftermath, but Paddy Power nevertheless make her their 6-1 market leader from 8-1 for the Oaks, while Unibet were even more impressed and offer just 4-1.

“It was very pleasing. I didn’t think she was particularly impressive there, she was workmanlike, but she is a work in progress and still a little bit green and babyish, so hopefully that will have done her the power of good,” said the Freemason Lodge handler.

“I’d say she’s developed pleasingly from two to three. They don’t all do that, but I’d say she has.

“We’ll take her back and work her and see how much we think she has progressed from this race, but hopefully she’s going to be in stakes races.

“We’ll run her in a trial and make a decision (on the Oaks) after that. I don’t think she’s going to be sparkling at this stage of her career as she needs to grow up.

“The ground was very soft at Doncaster and she went through that and today it’s on the slow side of good and she handles that. I think she may be impervious to ground.”

Soprano strides clear at Newmarket
Soprano strides clear at Newmarket (David Davies/PA)

Soprano appears to have booked her ticket to Royal Ascot after justifying cramped odds on her first competitive start in the British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

Plenty was expected of George Boughey’s Highclere-owned juvenile as the 6-4 favourite and she came up with the goods, passing the post with just under two lengths in hand to complete a treble on the card for champion jockey William Buick.

Dramatised won the five-furlong contest last year before going on to land the Queen Mary at the Royal meeting, but Boughey views the extra furlong of the Albany Stakes as a more suitable target for Soprano – a race in which the trainer’s subsequent 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet finished fifth in 2021.

Boughey said: “It’s always a case of first day at school and I do think she’ll step up for that. She was a bit green at one point, but she’s bred to get further and we thought that if she could get to the dip she’d come out of it really well.

“I was keen to come to the track earlier than we did with Cachet as they need to learn and she was still doing that there. She probably needs another run before (Royal Ascot), I don’t really know where but the Albany has got to be the plan. ”

The Gatekeeper (100-30 favourite) galloped his rivals into submission in the Nyetimber Handicap under Andrea Atzeni, keeping enough up his sleeve from the front to score by a length from Star Of Orion.

Owners Middleham Park Racing were completing a quickfire double following the victory of Shouldvebeenaring in the preceding King Charles II Stakes.

The Gatekeeper (centre) winning at Newmarket
The Gatekeeper (centre) winning at Newmarket (David Davies/PA)

The Gatekeeper’s trainer Charlie Johnston said: “Fair play to the the Middleham Park team as they’ve had to be very patient with this horse. He was a very talented two-year-old and missed the guts of two years through injury, so it’s great that they retained the faith and he’s paying them back in spades.

“After two furlongs I thought it was game over after they gave him an easy lead as we know he stays further. I thought if he was in front coming out of the dip he wasn’t going to get caught and his last furlong was his best furlong.

“He’s going to be flexible between seven furlongs and a mile and we’ll work back from the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot.”

And Johnston and Atzeni got in the double act themselves, when Outbreak (9-2 joint-favourite) took the concluding Race Horse Lotto Handicap.