Shabab Al Ahli is the headline act on day one of Newbury’s Spring Trials Weekend, taking on nine rivals in the feature Darley EBF Novice Stakes (3.42). Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Frankel colt arrives off an emphatic Southwell success in February under Conor Planas and is being touted as a potential Derby candidate (currently around 33-1). He drops a furlong in trip today as part of a campaign aimed at building to a classic bid; Appleby also won this race’s inaugural running in 2023 with Military Order, who had been a short-priced Derby fancy that season.
Sahara King looks the chief danger after a promising debut win at Wolverhampton in November, with the form receiving a boost when a recent fourth from that race subsequently scored. Another likely improver is My Love Is King for John and Thady Gosden — a Newcastle debut winner who holds a Derby entry and is trading near 40-1. For further reading around the meeting see Hollie Doyle’s blog on Wareeth and coverage of the trainer Evan Williams court report.
Over at Saint-Cloud (3.55), talented Juddmonte filly Gilded Prize tackles the Henri Matisse Coolmore Prix Cléopâtre as a stepping stone to the Prix de Diane at Chantilly. A scopey Frankel daughter with only two runs, she won on polytrack in November and impressed again on her reappearance under Colin Keane. With Francis-Henri Graffard enjoying a strong season, connections — including European Racing Manager Barry Mahon — are optimistic. If she handles the rise in class she looks more likely to head to Chantilly than to Epsom. Main rivals include Turbulente, who was three lengths behind last time, and Arkansas, a Listed winner whose stablemate Warriors Whisper also returns.
Back at Newbury (2.32), the Bridget “Confined” Maiden Fillies’ Stakes features some high-quality pedigrees. Synchronicity is a full-sister to champion Ombudsman — last season’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Juddmonte International winner who started his year with victory in the Dubai Turf — and will be well supported with Kieran Shoemark booked. Harry Charlton runs Sapphire Secret, a Kingman filly out of Whatami and a half-sister to Sir Delius, who recently added a Group 1 in Australia to the family’s record. Shadwell’s Seet, trained by the Gosdens, is a half-sister to reigning champion filly Kalpana, while William Haggas, a three-times winner of this race in the last five years, fields Song Of The Clouds, a Night Of Thunder filly related to Group 3 winner Mighty Ulysses.
Best of the rest: Time Lock’s full-sister Take A View makes her debut in Newbury’s Dreweatts Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over ten furlongs and is one of several interesting newcomers. Of the exposed runners, Allaire looks the pick for jockey Oisin Murphy and trainer Andrew Balding.
At Bath, Jack Morland’s Hunky Dory carries a 5lb penalty in the MJ Church Handicap after an easy Wolverhampton win and drops to the minimum trip of five furlongs for the first time, having previously raced over six and seven furlongs. The rest of the Bath field arrive out of form, though Jax Edge did manage a recent victory on her second-last start.
There should be plenty of pointers across the cards for owners and trainers plotting spring targets, with Newbury’s card offering both emerging middle-distance prospects and well-bred fillies to follow through the season.