“Five days out from the Guineas, I couldn't be happier with them,” said trainer Charlie Appleby, who also has stakes-winner and three-time Group 3-placed Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) entered in the first Classic of the UK season, on the Godolphin website. “One Ruler has been progressing nicely at home, while Master Of The Seas has gone to the races and put the score on the board.

“It wasn't an easy call for William, who rode Master Of The Seas in the Craven and then sat on One Ruler in a routine gallop at Moulton Paddocks last week.

“William asked some serious questions of Master Of The Seas in his race, and he was pleased with the response. I believed that's what clinched it in the end. Of course, the final call comes at declaration time on Thursday.”

One Ruler will be making his 3-year-old bow in the Guineas and won the G3 Autumn S. over the Rowley Mile last October.

“Things have also gone well with One Ruler,” Appleby added. “He is well in himself, and his work has been pleasing.

“Kieren Fallon, who has been riding him all winter, took him for a routine gallop at Moulton Paddocks on Saturday, and he was pleased. Kieren won the Guineas five times, so it's great to have a rider with that experience on the team.”

Other Godolphin Classic aspirants have had their next starts mapped out as well. Craven second and 'TDN Rising Star' La Barossa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is being aimed at the G1 French 2000 Guineas on May 16.

“He has done well since the Craven, and it is best to put a line though his previous run in France in the G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud [when fifth, beaten six and a quarter lengths]. He did not like the heavy ground.”

Unbeaten Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who has won a novice at Newmarket last October and a 10-furlong Newbury contest on Apr. 16, will target the G2 Dante S. at York on May 13. G3 Sandown Classic Trial second and third Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), will head to the Lingfield Derby Trial or Dante and the Chester Vase, respectively.

“We are very encouraged by the signs so far and excited with what we have,” Appleby said of his 3-year-old Classic prospects. “We are always looking for the next 3-year-old champion, and we are very happy the way this group are developing.

“The Dante is usually a very good trial for the Derby, and Hurricane Lane is worthy of having a crack at it. On all evidence so far, Adayar is going to appreciate stepping up in trip, which could be in the Lingfield Derby Trial. But he doesn't want the ground too quick, so he has the Dante at York as alternative.

“I was very pleased with Yabir's seasonal debut. He is only going to get better when he gets to a mile and a half, which he will get in the Chester Vase, his next race.

“I also plan to send Wirko (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) [Epsom's Listed Blue Riband Trial winner] to Chester for the Dee S. It will be more good experience for him. The Epsom race was a 'Win and You're In' for the Derby–we already know he can handle the track.”

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“We've done some work on his stride pattern and that is suggesting he wants seven furlongs to a mile, so that's where we're looking at the moment, rather than coming back in trip,” Charlton said of the Archie Watson trainee.

“Looking ahead, Archie is thinking of the French 2000 Guineas. He just thinks it's a little bit of a sharper test than Newmarket and the ground might also be more suitable.

“He handled that watered ground very well, but he obviously handles the surface at Southwell well, so it if it was on the soft side of good in France it could suit him even better.

“You never say never as far as Newmarket is concerned, but I think we're very much looking forward to the French Guineas as the nature of the race might be a bit better for him.”

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“I think he broke a bit lazily which meant he had to go wide, so it was frustrating,” said Fabre. “We’ll keep him at 10 furlongs for now. The [Aug. 15 G2] Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville might be next.”

Fabre’s listed winner Ocean Atlantique (American Pharoah) was also quietly fancied, but he faded badly in the straight into 10th.

“Ocean Atlantique I was a bit disappointed with. I could probably blame the lack of experience for him,” said Fabre. “He’d had four races in his career but all of them had been easy, they didn’t get him ready for competition like that. I think he’s happy enough at 10 furlongs, but maybe he could go over further.”

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