Saturday Review

The was a turn up in the first domestic Group 1 of the season at Newbury on Saturday with Audience defying his odds of 22/1 when making all in the Lockinge Stakes. Partnered by Robert Havlin and tackling a mile for the first time, the five year old stayed on strongly to beat Charyn by a length and three quarters. A Group 3 winner last year, the son of Iffraaj was runner-up in the Group 2 City of York and Park Stakes in 2023 but was racing at the highest level for the first time here. Previous Group 1 winners Big Rock and Inspiral never threatened with the latter expected to improve for her seasonal pipeopener before heading to Royal Ascot next month. 

Indeed it proved a highly successful afternoon for John and Thady Gosden with the champion trainers sending out an across the card treble. The day began with victory for Middle Earth in the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes. The four year old had been progressed last term winning the Melrose Stakes at York before rounding off his campaign with victory in the Listed Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot. Returning from a break of 222 days, the son of Roaring Lion led close home here edging out King of Conquest in the closing stages. His next target is likely to be the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot with the Melbourne Cup in November the long-term goal. 

Top 40 entry Ejaabiyah shaped with plenty of promise for the future in the concludling Listed fillies' event, which has been won by the likes of Sea of Class (2018), Nashwa (2022) and Warm Heart (2023) in recent years. Roger Varian's daughter of Frankel had impressed when winning on her debut at Kempton last Autumn and is held in high esteem at Carlburg Stables. Ridden patiently by James Doyle, she held every chance inside the final furlong before finding Ascot winner Diamond Rain too strong. Beaten two and a quarter lengths, she rates a smart prospect who is capable of making an impact in Group races later in the year. The stable have won the Group 3 Hoppings Stakes at Newcastle (28th June) three times in the last eight years (twice with three year olds) and the ten furlongs contest could be ideal for the lightly raced filly.

It proved a roller coaster day for Varian with Charyn finishing second in the Lockinge Stakes and news emerged that stable star King of Steel and the rest of the Amo Racing horses have been removed from Carlburg Stables - Mr Hampstead has joined Dominic Ffrench Davis. King of Steel was due to reappear in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on Thursday evening but reportedly sustained an injury which is likely to see him on the sidelines for the majority of the summer if not longer. This time last year, the son of Wootton Bassett came within half a length of winning the Epsom Derby without a prep run before winning the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and Group 1 Champion Stakes at the same track. Not a bad return in less than five months. The decision to remove King of Steel and the rest of their horses from Roger Varian was made by the same person who sacked his retained jockey Kevin Stott via text message last September. Unlike King of Steel, his owner lacks class.