The opening day of Newmarket's Craven meeting witnesses the return of Sylvester Kirk's stable star Salouen in this nine-furlong contest, used as a stepping stone to Classic glory and more by Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in 2015. The Upper Lambourn conditioner is hoping he has a Derby contender in his care, as the bay comes back off a runner-up finish to National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Oct. 2 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and a third behind Rivet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in Doncaster's Oct. 22 G1 Racing Post Trophy last time.
“Salouen performed well last year and has done really well over the winter,” said Kirk. “He has strengthened up lovely and could not be better at the moment. He is in good shape and the plan is to get him to Epsom for the [June 3 G1] Investec Derby. We think he wants fast ground as he broke the 2-year-old course record [tackling an extended mile] at Windsor on good-to-firm, although he did run well in the Racing Post Trophy on soft ground. I probably should have made more use of him that day, but I didn't want him bombing along and then stopping.”
There is no shortage of talent in opposition and his rivals include recent Listed International Trial S. victor Law and Order, who carries a three-pound impost for that success and makes the short hop from James Tate's local yard; Marco Botti trainee Al Hamdany, making his sophomore return coming off a second in last term's Listed Silver Tankard S. at Pontefract; and John Gosden incumbent Khalidi, who was burdened with the top weight of 133 pounds when third in an informative handicap at Doncaster in his seasonal debut Apr. 2.
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