Dream Castle out to emulate sire Frankel in Greenham

Frankel colt Dream Castle gets the chance to emulate his brilliant sire by attempting to win the JLT Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday. 

Unraced as a juvenile, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt blazed a trail on his debut at Doncaster recently and steps up in class for the Guineas trial – six years after Frankel blitzed the field in the Group Three over seven furlongs.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "He has shown plenty of speed and he will be suited by the seven furlongs at Newbury. He worked really well a few days ago. 

"It is easy to win a maiden and it is only when we step them up that we find out the truth about them.

"We liked him last year, but he was a little bit weak and backward and that is why we didn't touch him.

"We just gave him time and I think we have done the right thing by looking after him."

Also running in the Godolphin blue is Richard Hannon's Barney Roy.

He made a striking debut at Haydock towards the end of last season and was so impressive that Sheikh Mohammed was advised to get his chequebook out and buy him.

Hannon does, however, harbour doubts about whether his colt is experienced enough to win a race of this nature.

"I am very pleased with Barney Roy. He heads to the Greenham but he has not got loads of experience, and that's my only worry with him," said Hannon.

"He is OK working up the gallops but when he works on the grass he does look around a bit.

"We have done plenty with him at home, he just needs the education on the track."

Via Serendipity represents Hugo Palmer, who won last year's 2000 Guineas with Galileo Gold.

Third behind Rivet on his debut at York, he was then beaten at odds-on at Yarmouth before winning at Newmarket.

Rob Speers, racing manager for owner Ibrahim Araci, said: "Looking back at York he ran a very good race but we were slightly disappointed he didn't win as he'd been working so well. In hindsight, he was beaten by a Group One winner.

"Then we possibly ran him back too quick at Yarmouth, where he fluffed his lines, but then he won well at Newmarket.

"Physically, he has developed and changed more than any of Mr Araci's two-year-olds and Hugo has been very pleased with him.

"His work has been good and this looks a nice starting point. It will guide us where we go with him for the rest of the season.

"That is why these races are seen as trials, though. There are several other horses with similar profiles in the race – some have Group form, others have won maidens well, but most of them haven't run for seven or eight months.

"In that time horses change physically and mentally and he certainly has, but so will some of the others.

"His work at home has certainly suggested it is worth running him."

David Menuisier's Make Time was beaten a nose by possible Derby contender Frontispiece before bolting up next time out at Salisbury.

Gail Brown, manager of the syndicate which owns the colt under her name, said: "Make Time won extremely well at Salisbury but it is difficult to assess the form.

"He is very athletic and his work at home is encouraging – everybody thinks he deserves his chance in a Classic trial.

"Jimmy Fortune, who rode him at Salisbury, has been down to David's and feels the colt has wintered well.

"Optimism is very important in racing but we have a mountain to climb as it is very tough at this level, taking on horses owned by Coolmore and Godolphin.

"Like so many other owners, we will find out this weekend how good our horse is."

Aidan O'Brien runs the Dundalk Listed winner War Secretary, with Sir Michael Stoute represented by Autumn Stakes runner-up Zainhom.

Kings Gift and Mr Scaramanga are others to consider in a race with plenty of depth.