Newmarket houses at least two major contenders for its own upcoming Classic, and the best could be Qatar Racing's Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy), who carries the burden of expectation to post in Thursday's G3 bet365 Craven S. Having looked the winner of the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October only to be overhauled by a renewed surge from Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), he boasts form of the highest standard which has already been upheld by the sixth-placed Chilean (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) winning the G3 Prix la Force. Previously, he had the recent Derby trial winners Nelson (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Mildenberger (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G2 Royal Lodge S. over this course and distance.
Charlie Appleby puts up two rivals in the G3 Solario S. winner and TDN Rising Star Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), with the former sporting the royal blue silks and the latter the famed maroon-and-white which is now the insignia of runners for Sheikha Al Jalila Racing. While Masar has a recent disappointment to put behind him after finishing 10th in the Mar. 10 Listed Al Bastakiya on dirt, Glorious Journey has a perfect record after doubling his tally in the G3 Prix la Rochette over seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud in September. “Masar is going to be suited by the return to turf and we are putting a line through his run on dirt at Meydan,” Appleby said. “He has a lovely pedigree and did nothing wrong as a juvenile. His only really disappointing race came on dirt in the Al Bastakiya and it was a bit of a non-event [when sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf] at Del Mar because it turned into a messy race. He travelled back from Dubai recently looking fit and well and, if he reproduces the form of his Solario S. victory or third in the [G1] Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, then he should be a big player. Glorious Journey also has a great pedigree and was unbeaten in two starts last season. While Masar comes into this race ready to roll, I expect Glorious Journey to improve on whatever he does this week. He wintered very well out in Dubai and has physically done very well from two to three. We hope to see him run a nice race with the future in mind.”
With Ballydoyle giving this renewal the swerve, Ryan Moore has been called upon for the ride on Dr Ali Ridha's White Mocha (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who beat the subsequent winner Knight To Behold (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the prestigious Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions S. over this trip at Newbury in September.
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