After the curtain raisers at Newmarket two weeks ago, the British flat racing season will be in full swing at Newbury on Saturday as the great and the good gear up for the Lockinge Stakes.
The 1 mile Group 1 for runners aged four and above has attracted thirteen runners this year looking to take home just shy of £200,000.
Two of the most recognisable racing silks are locked together at the top of the market, with Laurel for the Juddmonte Group and Modern Games for Godolphin both priced at 4.33 with William Hill.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 19th, 4:30 P.M. (BST)
4-year-old Laurel, trained by John & Thady Gosden, was second in last season’s Sun Chariot Stakes for fillies and warmed up for this with a Class 1 win at Kempton.
She will have a fourth jockey in just her fifth official race as Frankie Dettori has been handed the ride, looking for a sixth win in what will be his final Lockinge.
Since a second in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October, Modern Games – also 4 – has raced twice in Grade 1s at Keeneland in the United States. A win in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in November was followed by second in the Maker’s Mark Mile a month ago.
William Buick takes his usual ride for trainer Charlie Appleby.
The great Baaeed took victory in this race a year ago for the Shadwell Estate and jockey Jim Crowley, and they could repeat their success again, this time with Mutasaabeq at 6.50.
Trained by Charles Hills, the 5-year-old will be getting his first taste of Group 1 action but is in good form, winning the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Newmarket two weeks ago.
Baaeed was trained by William Haggas, who is looking for his own double with My Prospero, also at 6.50, ridden by Tom Marquand.
Yet to run this season, My Prospero finished third in both his Group 1 outings last term, the St James’ Palace Stakes and the Champion Stakes, both at Ascot, with the former over a mile.
8.00 chance Jadoomi has also not been seen since October and was third in both his previous runs in this company, while Jamie Spencer rides Light Infantry (9.50) who was third behind Mutasaabeq at Newmarket.
Richard Hannon’s Chindit (17.00) opened his season with a victory at Ascot, while Triple Time (23.00) looked outclassed in his last run, a Grade 2 at Longchamp last autumn.
Of the bigger prices, Berkshire Shadow (34.00) with two wins from two this season might attract a few each-way bets from the local crowd.
