Alparslan Takes The Greenham, Guineas Run In The Balance

Sent off at 9-1 for Saturday's G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes, Alparslan (Dandy Man) belied the lack of market confidence to prevail in the 2,000 Guineas trial. Sent to the front by Clifford Lee, Mohamed Saeed Al Shehhi's Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes winner who was sixth in the Dewhurst stayed on strongly to deny Zavateri (Without Parole) by a length.

The winner's trainer Karl Burke is unsure whether to take the plunge at Newmarket in a fortnight. “It's a case of which Guineas to go for,” he said. “He's a high-class horse with a great mind–he's on the lazy side and is having a blow there so he'll definitely come on fitness-wise.”

“A mile is a question mark, but in the last 50 yards there he was going away from the second and third if anything,” he added. “When he ran in the Dewhurst, he didn't really like the undulations there and came back a little bit sore but that was his third quick run so it could have been that. He's a big, heavy horse, so going round a bend at Longchamp may not be his cup of tea. The Curragh will probably suit him, but he's got time to go to the English and the Irish Guineas. He is idle, so I'm sure there's another gear there, it's just the trip that's the big question mark.”

While Zavateri and Albert Einstein (Wootton Bassett) were the big names entering this seven-furlong prep, it was Alparslan who delivered the telling surge to stamp his authority on affairs. The tale of this race was the winner's sectional of 11.38 between the three and the two, which the second and third were unable to match. The only questionable aspect of the winner's performance is the possibility of a slight stand's side bias, as suggested by the big handicap later on the card.

Zavateri's trainer Eve Johnson Houghton was happy with the performance of her returning Group 1 winner. “There was no pace and he had nowhere to go, but he picked up really nicely and is having a good blow so will come on a tonne,” she said. “He's grown a lot, he's trained on clearly and he'll probably get a mile, but we won't make a decision on the Guineas until next week.”

Albert Einstein, who was sent off the 9-4 favourite in a first-time hood, looked a dubious stayer again as he faded late to be a further 3/4 of a length away in third. Kevin Buckley, Coolmore's UK representative, was on course and said, “He has run a creditable race. It was a bit of a muddling race, but we would have to be happy enough with that. We will let Ryan speak to Aidan, who couldn't be here today and then we will make a decision after he has spoken to the owners as to which route we are going to go.”

“Ryan didn't want to commit until he has spoken to Aidan and then spoken to the owners. We could still go either way,” he added. “We will have a chew on it tonight and see, but I think he has run a good race. He was in the mix there and when Ryan asked he went for him fine. Without question, being back on the better ground has suited him so we have learnt a little bit today and probably more than we think once we start digesting it overnight. We will announce a decision as and when the owners have made their decision.”

ALPARSLAN proves much too good in the Greenham! 🤩@NewburyRacing | @SkySportsRacing pic.twitter.com/6s8VjldIOA

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 18, 2026

Pedigree Notes
Alparslan is the first foal out of the Laciredeski (Toronado), whose two-year-old colt by Minzaal is due to sell at next month's Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up. A daughter of the Italian Listed scorer Sciolina (Oratorio), she is a half to the triple Listed-winning G2 Gran Criterium runner-up Some Respect (Gleneagles) and the G1 Flying Five runner-up Erosandpsyche (Sepoy). This is also the family of the 1978 Triple Crown hero Affirmed.