The Craven Meeting from Newmarket saw three days of action with some fine performances and the Guineas Trials didn’t disappoint.
Day one saw the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes a trial for the 1000 Guineas over seven furlongs. Verse of Love was sent off favourite here for the Godolphin operation at 15/8 but could only manage seventh place. The winner Zanzoun won readily under Kieran Shoemark at 9/1. Trained by John and Thady Gosden this filly won a novice at Southwell last November and has obviously come on lots since then. The Juddmonte owned filly is not entered in the English 1000 and is likely to go for the French equivalent.
The other Group 3 on the card, The Earl Of Sefton Stakes was won by Persica for trainer Richard Hannon but most credit goes to jockey Ryan Moore who travelled nicely took it up two furlongs out and quickened clear. Almost pinched the race in the Majors opinion. The Listed Fielden Stakes was taken by Almeric who won a York maiden last backend, and this Andrew Balding colt looks a nice prospect.
Wednesday and day two of the meeting was all about the Craven Stakes itself. Field Of Gold took the honours decisively for the same connections in this 2000 Guineas trial as the previous day in the filly’s trial. Namely, Juddmonte, the Gosden’s and Shoemark. This was a performance that took this colt to the head of the 2000 Guineas market at 3/1 and incredibly could provide John Gosden with his first 2000 Guineas winner.
The Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes has thrown up some decent winners in the past and High Stock from the Andrew Balding yard looks useful. He just saw off the Archie Watson trained and Spy Kingdom and Oisin Murphy, with the favourite Hard Endeavour back in third.
Thursday saw a couple of notable performances. The Conditions Stakes over seven furlongs saw the complete outsider of the field Pellitory prevail under Harry Davies. Owned by the Gredley Family and trained by James Owen the winner held the Godolphin owned favourite Anno Dornini by half a length. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the “Boys in Blue” as they took the two-year-old Novice with Military Code and the Alex Scott Maiden Stakes with Indian Springs.
Finally, William Haggas and Tom Marquand teamed up to somehow win three competitive handicaps on the card with Bullet Point, Power Fizz and Art Market.