Get the latest on some of Newmarket's most exciting three-year-old colts this season from our Catching Pigeons correspondent.
GHAIYYATH - Charlie Appleby
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Charlie Appleby was an emotional wreck for a few moments after Jungle Cat provided him with a first winner on World Cup night and he must have been on cloud nine when Hawkbill doubled up in the Sheema Classic. When he finally comes back down to Earth, he’ll notice that he’s got a couple of very lively early Classic chances in the shape of Wild Illusion in the 1000 Guineas and Ghaiyyath, who could reappear in the 2000 Guineas before a potential Dante/Derby bid. A mile is likely to be a minimum requirement for Ghaiyyath given he raced three times over the Guineas trip as a two-year-old but he’s not short of pace and could surprise a few people if rocking up on May 5. His pedigree is littered with quality and Appleby would be wise to have the tissues on hand again when it comes to this colt’s Classic appearances.
EQTIDAAR - Sir Michael Stoute
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On the face of it, Eqtidaar didn’t progress from his Nottingham maiden success in August to his second outing in Group Three company at Kempton the following month but that’s not what his homework was suggesting and it could just be a case that it was too much too soon. Sir Michael Stoute and Hamdan Al Maktoum were quick to draw stumps for the year and the son of Invincible Spirit looks to have done exceedingly well for his winter.
ELECTOR - Sir Michael Stoute
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Another Stoute-trained three-year-old worth monitoring closely in The Queen’s Elector, who defied a slightly worrying market drift when obliging at 7/1 on his Ascot debut in September. Presumably the weakness in the market was primarily on account of the soft ground but the son of Dansili knuckled down well to win under Pat Dobbs and the experience looks to have done him good. A mile and a quarter might prove to be his optimum but he’s just one of two from the yard entered in the Dante at York and if things go well there then there’s bound to be plenty of Epsom conjecture.
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WITHOUT PAROLE - John Gosden
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Trying to work out John Gosden’s best three-year-old, filly or colt, is a complex business but potentially highly rewarding and by all accounts Without Parole is right up there with the pick of them. The son of Frankel made a most striking debut when winning by six lengths at Newcastle in December and while Gosforth Park may not traditionally be the place to seek out future superstars, that has all changed in recent season with stablemate and Arc heroine Enable among a bunch of quality performers to have won a Newcastle maiden at two. The bare form of Without Parole’s win is only modest but he’s held in high esteem so expect to see him at the Craven meeting in mid-April.
WILLIE JOHN - Roger Varian
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Willam Haggas dominated a hot-looking, seven-furlong novice event at Yarmouth in the middle of October, with Willie John flying home at the finish to ultimately win well from then-stable companion Humbolt Current. The third home, Amplification, subsequently won at Doncaster and the form looks worth following. The winner has transferred to Roger Varian's stable, having been picked up at the February Tattersalls sales for a princely sum of 1.9 million guineas and he's to race in the silks of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid this season. He's in the Guineas, the Derby and the Irish Derby and no doubt the owner is keen to aim high. Varian may get his wish and tread a little more cautiously, but his preparatory work from two to three has pleased all at Carlburg Stables.
LAUGHING STRANGER - Jeremy Noseda
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Jeremy Noseda has given this son of Medaglia d’Oro plenty of time to come to hand and early evidence suggests he’s coming along nicely and filling into his frame. Like many others from the yard, his American pedigree gives the impression he may be most effective on synthetic surfaces, but his half-brother was a winner on turf in the US. Entries in the Derby should never be taken at face value given how early they have to be made but Laughing Stranger could yet appear in a trial and he's one to look forward to.
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