Racing at Newmarket

Monday 26th April 2010

Connections happy with Awzaan

SHEIKH Hamdan's Middle Park Stakes winner Awzaan (pictured above) was among 22 entries left in the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas at the five-day entry stage this morning.

The Mark Johnston-trained colt, a 7/1 chance with sponsors, will be making his seasonal debut in Saturday, May 1's Classic but enjoyed a good workout on the Rowley Mile at the Craven Meeting.

Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan said : “Mark seems very happy with him. He’s back to his racing weight and has always had a great temperament for the job.

“Certainly on pedigree he should stay and it’s great to have a horse in with a chance of winning a Classic.”

Trainer John Best also had news of Inler whose odds for the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas have been cut to 16/1 following his impressive racecourse gallop at Newmarket almost two weeks ago.

He said: "Everything is spot on. He has had the perfect preparation apart from us not being able to get a run into him before Saturday.

"But it was a proper piece of work at Newmarket and he had a good blow afterwards - that is the first time I've seen him do that."

By Jackie Jarvis