16:15 Newbury

Friday 18 May 2018

All13:3014:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:4517:20

Martin Gray Celebration British EBF Maiden Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 2m 6.67s

(15)

Al Muffrih²⁰⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas

10/11

Just one run to his name (over 1m) but it's a race to view in a positive manner and is working out well. Looks sure to improve on that run and is in excellent hands and it won't be a surprise to see a forward showing here.

Form: 3-

(11)

Astrologist²¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox

14/1

Sea The Stars colt who cost €135,000 as a yearling and is a full-brother to Group 3 winner Raheen House. Beaten just a neck by Blazing Tunder (Gendarme third) on his second start at Nottingham in October (1m+ gd/sft).

Form: 82-

(5)

Blackfyre

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: M Harley| T: B J Meehan

50/1

Unraced sixth foal by Redoute's Choice who cost €42,000 as a yearling and is a half-brother to the 1m2f-1m5f winner Swashbuckling.

Form:

(7)

Cacophonous¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R Kingscote| T: D Menuisier

16/1

Cacique colt who cost 210,000 gns as a yearling and is closely related to the 1m2f winner Zee Zeely. Beaten 6½L on debut at Nottingham recently (1m soft), but shaped with plenty of promise for the future. Upped in trip.

Form: 4

(12)

Casa Comigo^h1¹⁹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Dayverson De Barros| T: J R Best

100/1

Cape Cross colt who returns to action wearing a hood after a couple of tame looking juvenile efforts; shouldn't be overly competitive.

Form: 07-

(13)

Coolongolook²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P Cosgrave| T: L M Cumani| OR: 80

17/2

Made the frame on all three career starts (1m), including when finishing 7+L third to Adjutant here last month on his seasonal reappearance. Now tackles a longer trip/quicker ground combination.

Form: 32-3

(9)

Gendarme²¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon

33/1

Lawman colt who showed improved form on his second start at Nottingham in October; 1m, when finishing a close up third to Blazing Tunder (Astrologist second). Most likely stronger still over this longer trip.

Form: 03-

(4)

Harawi

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Sir Michael Stoute

25/1

Unraced second foal by Camelot out of Nigh (an unraced half-sister to the Group 1 winning sprinter Kingsgate Native); cost €200,000 as a yearling.

Form:

(14)

Kabrit²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding

33/1

Cost €100,000 as a yearling, but is yet to threaten to justify that price tag in a couple of starts (1m-1m3f), but in all fairness he was meeting the Chester Vase winner Young Rascal latest (10th of 20).

Form: 0-0

(3)

King of Burgundy²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman

66/1

240,000 gns yearling who hasn't shown much in a couple of starts so far (both 1m2f). Given that his dam was an unraced half-sister to a couple of useful stayers, he may need a longer trip in time to unlock his ability.

Form: 70

(17)

Mazboon⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian

25/1

Short of room on the inner and unseated his rider at Nottingham last week, but presumably none the worse turned out quickly. Didn't look anywhere near the finished article on debut, but is worth noting as a 400,000 gns yearling.

Form: 6U

(10)

Mini P

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: G Mosse| T: B J Meehan

50/1

Unraced first foal by New Approach out of the French 1m1f+ winning dam Dawning. Cost 35,000 gns as a yearling, but faces a stiff introduction to racing in this contest.

Form:

(6)

Shareef Star²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Dobbs| T: Sir Michael Stoute

8/1

Sea The Stars colt who cost 700,000 gns as a yearling. Finished well down the pack on debut here last month (1m3f) behind subsequent Chester Vase winner Young Rascal, and is one of two runners for his trainer here.

Form: 0

(2)

Simbirsk¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Charles Bishop| T: H & R Charlton

66/1

Finished in midfield on debut at Windsor last month (1m2f good) behind stablemate Aspetar (15/8f) and should have more to offer in the future, but this looks to be a much more competitive race on paper.

Form: 7

(1)

Surya²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| BF

11/2

Frankel colt who looked in need of the experience on debut in the Wood Ditton at Newmarket last month (1m), finishing 11th of 19 behind Sawwaah. Stable also saddles the better fancied Cassini.

Form: 0

(16)

Tinsmith

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Harry Bentley| T: H & R Charlton

40/1

Unraced fourth foal by Mastercraftsman out of an unraced mare (Catopuma). Half-brother to various winners including Fire Leopard (1m2f-1m4f) and Kip (1m4f). Trainer also saddles the more experienced Simbirsk.

Form:

Non-Runners

(8)

Cassini²⁴⁵

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: J & T Gosden J: K T O'Neill

Forecasts

Al Muffrih (10/11), Cassini (9/2), Surya (11/2), Shareef Star (8/1), Coolongolook (17/2), Astrologist (14/1), Cacophonous (16/1), Harawi (25/1), Mazboon (25/1), Kabrit (33/1), Gendarme (33/1), Tinsmith (40/1), Mini P (50/1), Blackfyre (50/1), Simbirsk (66/1), King of Burgundy (66/1), Casa Comigo (100/1)

Perhaps the most intriguing race on the opening day of the two-day Lockinge fixture at Newbury, with no shortage of leading stables/owners represented by some extraordinarily expensive purchases. The likes of Cassini, Astrologist, Gendarme and Coolongolook have all demonstrated a respectable level of previous form whilst the lightly raced types such as Cacophonous, Surya and Mazboon are open to considerable further improvement. However, there was plenty to like about AL MUFFRIH on debut at Newmarket in October (1m), and with that form working out well, this 260,000 gns son of Sea The Stars rates as the selection.