April 12 – Newmarket – Master Of The Seas – 100
Last year’s Craven winner and Guineas runner-up, Charlie Appleby’s gelding kicked off his season in the best possible fashion by capturing this Group 3 prize and he should have another productive campaign based on this evidence. The way he quickened to go by his main market rival Megallan was one of the pleasing aspects of the performance and the clock went a long way to backing up the visual impression. Reportedly to be aimed at the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot rather than go to the Lockinge, the stiff mile at the Berkshire venue should play into his strengths.
April 13 – Newmarket – Native Trail – 97
It was a week when Godolphin introduced many of their big guns, none more so than this son of Dubawi, and last year’s Dewhurst winner could not have done any more en-route to the 2000 Guineas. Similar to his victory at HQ last season, he took a while to find top stride, but there was no denying his class once he was eventually in full flow and on this evidence, it will take a smart one to lower his colours in a month’s time.
April 13 – Newmarket – New London – 94
Half an hour later, and the boys in blue were at it again, this time introduction a smart colt into the Derby picture courtesy of another son of Dubawi. Usurped at the head of the market by the previously impressive all-weather scorer, Aldous Huxley, the powerfully-built three-year-old proved the pre-race vibes all wrong by beating his main rival with plenty to spare and looking at his overall time figure and backend sectionals, his numbers strongly suggest he has the perfect blend of speed and stamina for Epsom.
April 15 – Chelmsford – Trawlerman – 99
John and Thady Gosden’s inmate hadn’t been seen out since disappointing in the Sandown Derby trial last May, but despite a 357-day break, he proved equal to the task. Forced to race wide throughout, the son of Golden Horn endured a trip that could have found him out if he did not have as much in hand as the market suggested and because of that, his performance deserves upgrading. Likely to step back into pattern company in future, this lightly-raced gelding should easily be capable of holding his own.
April 15 – Newcastle – El Caballo – 99
Unbeaten in his last four races previously, Karl Burke’s colt maintained that trend with a career-high performance in the final of the three-year-old all-weather sprint series and in doing so, he posted the fastest time on the seven-race card. Having to dig deep late on to repel the late thrust of Tiber Flow, the son of Havana Gold displayed all the traits of a potential pattern horse and he could easily develop into a Commonwealth Cup type if he can translate this sort of form back to turf.
April 16 – Musselburgh – Enemy – 100
A competitive handicap won in ridiculously easy fashion by a horse who looks another very astute purchase by his ultra-shrewd handler. Improving for a step up in trip at Meydan previously, the son of Muhaarar was very much the unknown quantity going into the contest and as it proved, he made a mockery of his opening mark in this country of 99. Likely to be given a harsh sentence by the assessor, he could, however, have enough in hand to defy the expected rise and it would come as little surprise to see him running in Group races sooner rather than later.