14th April
NATIVE Khan enhanced his QIPCO 2000 Guineas credentials with an eye-catching victory in the Breeze up Vendors Craven Stakes.
The Ed Dunlop-trained colt, the 8/11 favourite, is now likely to return to the Rowley Mile for a crack at the first Classic of the season for which he is a 12/1 chance.
Native Khan travelled strongly under Kieren Fallon who tracked the pacesetter, Libranno. He kicked for home at ‘The Bushes’ and victory was never in doubt as the powerful grey strolled to a two length win.
A delighted Dunlop said: “We have always loved this horse, ever since we saw him at the Breeze-ups last year.
“He is a beautiful mover and because of this he doesn’t act on soft ground. He has done it very well and I would prefer to run him in the 2000 Guineas.
“He’s a French bred so the French 2000 Guineas will also come under consideration. But he’s done it well and Kieren said that he should improve from it.”
Ransom Note (6/1) produced a career best performance to win the Weatherbys Earl of Sefton Stakes under a well-timed front running ride by Michael Hills.
The son of Red Ransom, who runs in the colours of Raymond Mould, won the Britannia at Royal Ascot last season and has now proven himself at Stakes level.
The winning trainer Barry Hills said: “He was over the top by the time of the Cambridgeshire but there's he's a much better horse this year.
“The plan had been to go for the Huxley Stakes at Chester but I think that will be shelved and we'll look for something else. I plan to go globetrotting with him and 10 furlongs is his trip.”
It was another good day at the office for trainer Richard Hannon who saddled a one-two with Auld Burns and Measuring Time in the £250,000 Tattersalls Millions 3YO Trophy.
It looked as though Richard Hughes aboard Measuring Time had timed his run to perfection but Auld Burns came from the clouds under Jamie Spencer to get up in the shadow of the post.
Auld Burns, a son of Darley July Cup winner Pastoral Pursuits, had finished sixth in last season’s Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy.
Hannon said: “I thought the other one (Measuring Time) would be the one but I’m delighted- he came from nowhere!”
The evergreen Genki took the Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes for trainer Roger Charlton and jockey Steve Drowne.
The seven-year-old stuck his neck out gamely in the closing stages to repel the challenge of Iver Bridge Lad and Dinkum Diamond by a neck.
Charlton said of his 12/1 winner: “He’s such a lazy horse at home I thought he would need this today. But he has stayed on well.
“He has done nothing but improve over the years and is a lovely, genuine horse. There aren’t many options for him so I’d think he’ll head to the Duke of York Stakes next.”
Experience is often key in two-year-old races and Princess Banu made use of her previous racecourse outing to take the EBF John Fairey Retirement maiden for trainer Mick Channon.
Jockey Chris Catlin made every yard of the running and the 11/1 chance never looked like getting caught, passing the line nearly two lengths clear.
Channon said: “She’s shown plenty of speed at home and has done it well. She was green when she ran at Ripon last week but got the hang of things towards the end. She’s a two-year-old and that’s it.”
Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni and jockey Mickael Barzalona teamed up to land the Greville Starkey Wooditton Stakes with Midsummer Fair at odds of 6/1.
The Godolphin-owned son of Medaglia d’Oro ran on strongly up the hill to take the spoils by three lengths from the eye-catching Air Traffic.
The winning trainer said: “There are no plans for the horse. We could step him up to a mile and a quarter but the jockey said that he could be very good over a mile so we’ll see.”
Deity got her career off to the perfect start in the Rossdales maiden for trainer Jeremy Noseda and jockey Ryan Moore.
The Irish 1000 Guineas entry quickened away smartly from her rivals to win by two lengths.
Noseda said: “She had a few problems which kept her off the track last year but she has put up a very professional performance.
“The Irish 1000 Guineas may be aiming a bit high but we’ll see how she is when we get her home.”
Frankie Dettori took the last race of the afternoon, the Glyn Hopkin handicap; aboard 9/4 chance Art History.
Day one of the QIPCO Guineas Festival is on 30 April.
