The Craven Stakes is the highlight of Thursday’s card at Newmarket with a field of seven set to go to post. The race looks unlikely to have any great impact on the 2000 Guineas but could hold some Epsom Derby clues.
Nafaqa was a top quality two-year-old for veteran trainer Barry Hills and got within a length of Elm Park in the Royal Lodge Stakes on his last run. That was over a mile in September and the son of Sir Percy may already be crying out for a longer trip. He had previously beaten Toocoolforschool by half a length at Doncaster and that horse boosted the form with an impressive win in the Mill Reef Stakes.
Frankie Dettori had a great day at Newmarket yesterday, winning the Nell Gwyn and the Feilden Stakes. He rode Osaila for Al Shaqab Racing and now teams up with Moheet, an unbeaten son of High Chaparral. He won by seven lengths on his debut at Salisbury last year and could be anything. White Lake could also have a big future but has to improve on his disappointing defeat at Doncaster in September.
He was odds-on favourite that day but could never land a blow, finishing a length and a half behind Nafaqa. The Hills’ colt just gets the vote in a fascinating contest.
Music Master deserves to take the Abernant Stakes for Henry Candy after some fine efforts in Group 1 company. He usually runs well fresh and was third to G Force in Haydock’s Sprint Cup in September. He was also fourth in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot which will probably be his main summer target again this season.
Following the All-weather form on turf can be the quick way to the poor house but it may be worth making an exception with Rocky Rider in the £200,000 Tattersalls Millions Trophy. Andrew Balding’s son of Galileo made hard work of winning his maiden at Windsor in soft ground in October but was very impressive at Chelmsford last time. Secret Brief is probably the one to beat if you overlook his last start when outclassed in the Dewhurst.
The globetrotting Grandeur could gain his first Group victory in the UK when he lines up for the Earl Of Sefton Stakes at 4.40. Arod was fourth in last year’s Derby but connections don’t seem certain about his best trip while French Navy will be hard to beat on his best form. There are some promising three-year-olds in the last and Muqtaser is just preferred to Mohatem.
Rocky Rider 2.55 @4-1 Paddy Power
Music Master 3.30 @5-2 Bet365
Nafaqa 4.05 @4-1 William Hill
Grandeur 4.40 @5-1 Coral
Muqtaser 5.40 @11-2 Paddy Power
