Lock Down

Since Cape Cross (Ire) triumphed in Newbury's G1 Lockinge S. in 1998, Godolphin have carved out the enviable position of being the race's leading owners with seven winners and there is a strong chance that could be extended in Saturday's Al Shaqab-sponsored renewal. Successful in three of the last four editions, the boys in blue are represented by a trio headed by Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), whose highlight last season came when capturing the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August. Also the winner of the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot in June and runner-up to Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. back at that venue on Champions Day, he put up a spirited effort when third on his return in the nine-furlong G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan on Mar. 25 and trainer Richard Fahey is issuing all the right vibes. “Everything has gone according to plan with Ribchester–there have been no issues,” he said. “I am very happy–his work is good and he is good. I don't think the ground will bother him, so we are comfortable going into the race. Ribchester won the Mill Reef and it was quite heavy that day, so this probably won't be the softest ground he has raced on. I don't see the ground as a problem at the moment. We thought about giving him a break after Dubai, but he came back so fresh and well that we carried on and did not back off too much. Physically he looks better this year. He has done real well since coming back from Dubai and physically he is starting to mature.”

This time last year, Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) was basking in the afterglow of his G1 2000 Guineas success and despite a subsequent second in the Irish equivalent at The Curragh, was able to come back and take the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot. After that, the race sponsor's flagbearer was second in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood in July, eighth in the Jacques le Marois and fifth in the QEII and returns with a point to prove. “We have had him fit and ready for some time,” trainer Hugo Palmer commented. “I think he is one of the few horses in the field that is not ground-dependent. He is more relaxed this year compared to 12 months ago and he has grown up. I won't be saying to Frankie to make the running, but Frankie knows the horse very well and he has not become one of the world's best jockeys by just listening to trainer's instructions, but by assessing conditions of the race and executing tactics.” Al Shaqab Racing's racing manager Harry Herbert added, “The horse has wintered really well. He had a very long year last season and it showed at the end. Through the winter he has really relaxed, put on a considerable amount of muscle condition and his last piece of serious work on the Rowley Mile was seriously exciting–a very similar piece of work to what he did prior to winning the Guineas.”

Ballydoyle's presence comes in the form of the progressive filly Somehow (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who was being prepared for a tilt at the G1 Epsom Oaks at this point in 2016 and who drops back in trip after a latest decisive win in Newmarket's G2 Dahlia S. over nine furlongs on May 7. Like the G2 Celebration Mile winner and QEII third Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), she will handle the easy ground which is also true of the G2 Challenge S. scorer Aclaim (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). The latter's trainer Martyn Meade is hoping he can mix it in this territory. “It's a pretty tough race,” he commented. “He's in at the deep end and Group 1s are always difficult. I think he's come back in stronger though and he ended last season in such a good place, going through the gears and ending up winning a Group 2. A bit of give in the ground won't inconvenience him and he'll probably prefer it to fast ground. On his homework, I think he deserves to be there and Jamie Spencer gets on well with him.”