The yellow-and-black-striped colours of KHK Racing have been carried to notable success since they first appeared on British racecourses in 2020 and the latest campaign was arguably the operation's best yet following the emergence of the unbeaten Vandeek, who proved himself a high-class sprinting two-year-old for Simon and Ed Crisford when signing off with back-to-back Group 1 victories in the Prix Morny at Deauville and Middle Park S. at Newmarket.

By Havana Grey (GB) and out of a mare who raced exclusively at five furlongs, Vandeek looked all speed in his four starts as a juvenile and his connections have no plans to step him up in trip for a tilt at the G1 2,000 Guineas, with all roads instead leading to the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on Friday, June 21.

“Vandeek has wintered well so far and everybody is very happy with him,” Wall said of the exciting colt. “He's just started cantering away and the Sandy Lane at Haydock [on Saturday, May 25] is hopefully where we'll make our seasonal debut en route to the Commonwealth Cup. It's so far so good and hopefully the old British weather won't interfere too much with him.

“It's exciting and hopefully he can build on what he achieved last year. You'd be thinking that he'd be capable of doing that looking at the type of horse he is. Physically, you'd be expecting him to strengthen and improve as a three-year-old, so we'll hope that proves to be the case.”

Vandeek's big target in the first part of the season, the Commonwealth Cup, was in the news on Tuesday when it was announced that the Group 1 event was in danger of being downgraded in 2025, depending on its performance this year.

Wall, who retired from the training ranks in 2022 after 36 years in that career, was clearly taken aback by the news as he said, “I would be very surprised if that was to be demoted. All races have cycles and some years where they perform better than others. I would have thought overall that the Commonwealth Cup has performed very well. I can't believe that it would be demoted just yet.

“I was on the racing committee when I was still training, back in the day when that [the introduction of the Commonwealth Cup] was actioned, and we always thought it was a positive move. It hasn't been going that long, but it's had some pretty good winners in that time. You can't take too short-term a view of a race like that, you've got to give it time to work. I think it's worked well so far and I was very surprised to hear that they were thinking of demoting it.”

One of the leading contenders for the 2023 running of the Commonwealth Cup was KHK Racing's Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who failed to meet expectations in the race itself and hasn't been seen in competitive action since.

An emphatic winner of the G2 Mill Reef S. at Newbury as a two-year-old, Sakheer has stayed in training with Roger Varian according to Wall, who is hopeful that the team's patient approach will pay off when the colt returns to the track in 2024.

“Sakheer just wasn't thriving last year,” said Wall. “The couple of runs he had were disappointing to say the least. We gave him a break after Ascot and tried to get him ready for an autumn campaign, but he still wasn't thriving. We couldn't find anything amiss, so we decided we'd give him time and freshen him up.

“He's done well physically and another one who has strengthened and put on weight. He looks very well, but we haven't decided yet where he might go. To start with we need to get him back on the track and performing well. Then we can develop a plan from there.”

More concrete plans are in place for fellow Varian trainee Eldar Eldarov, who has been a terrific servant to his connections having won the G1 St Leger at Doncaster in 2022 before doubling his top-level tally with victory in last year's Irish equivalent.

Eldar Eldarov has been off the track since that success at the Curragh in September, but that has all been part of the plan, reported Wall, as the five-year-old gears up for a potential trip to Dubai next month.

“Eldar Eldarov has done very well this winter and put on a lot of weight,” said Wall. “If he's performing well enough at home he may well go for the Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night. If the weather interferes and we can't get him ready for that, then he'd make his debut like last year in the Yorkshire Cup.

“There was nothing wrong with him [after the Irish St Leger]. We had pretty terrible ground everywhere and Roger Varian took the view that the horse's optimum trip is a mile and six furlongs. Although he stays two miles, he's probably better at a slightly shorter trip. The only other race he could have run in was the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day, but that was always going to be very testing ground.

“We thought if we were going to have him ready for Dubai it made sense for him to have his break a bit earlier, so that he could come into training earlier in the year to get him fit enough for that, if everything goes right.”

Away from the well-established names in the KHK Racing ranks, My Cloud (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and True Cyan (Ire) (No Nay Never) also came in for a positive mention from Wall, both three-year-olds who showed plenty of ability on their respective debuts.

True Cyan looks set to step up in grade having impressed when beating a pair of next-time-out winners at Newmarket in September, while My Cloud–a half-brother to the multiple Group 1-winning miler Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB})–was beaten only narrowly when having his first start at Newcastle earlier this week.

“We'll probably start her off in one of the Classic trials if all is well,” Wall said of True Cyan. “We'll see what that tells us. She did win well on debut and she's a filly who, physically, you'd expect her to be a better three-year-old. She remains an exciting prospect and all the reports so far are positive.

“My Cloud did everything right at Newcastle bar getting the win. It was just his lack of experience which got him beaten. He came to win his race and when he was challenged he had no idea what was expected of him until the penny dropped a bit too late.

“He remains a nice prospect and he's clearly got talent. He's a big horse and you'd expect him to improve through this year. I think Roger may not throw too much at him early on, but we'll see what he can do, how he progresses, and work a plan out as we go.”

The KHK Racing team earned total prize-money of £685,623 in Britain last year and that came from only 17 individual horses who carried their colours on the racecourse. Wall confirmed that there is no plan to massively expand their boutique team for 2024, preferring to focus on quality over quantity.

“I don't think KHK is ever going to be about large numbers,” said Wall. “I think we'll probably be around the 20-mark for horses this year and I'm sure that Shaikh Khalid [bin Hamad Al Khalifa] will be wanting to restock at the breeze-ups where he's had quite a bit of success in the past.

“We have a nice, exciting team and one or two horses still to run who are three-year-olds now and well-bred. You never know whether something might pop up out of those as well. It's an exciting time and we've got some nice horses to go to war with.”

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“The target for him is to go to the Irish St Leger and that is very much still on the cards at the moment,” said Chris Wall, racing manager for owners KHK Racing Ltd. “He's grand and it's all systems go for that.”

The 4-year-old was originally slated to contest the G3 St Leger trial earlier this month, however, was subsequently declared a non-runner after not travelling well.

“We don't know why because he's never had that problem before,” he explained. “He got upset travelling and they thought rather than carry on to Ireland they would bring him home. I think they had got into north Wales just beyond Chester.

“The worry was if you put him on the ferry and it deteriorated into something like colic then you are in the middle of the sea and you can't do anything about it. He just got his knickers in a twist about something so they brought him home.”

Trained by Roger Varian, Eldar Eldarov was second in his seasonal debut in the G2 Yorkshire Cup S. in May before finishing seventh in the G1 Ascot Gold Cup the following month. Most recently, he was fourth in the G1 Goodwood Cup S. on Aug. 1.

Varian indicated that KHK Racing-owned Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), the winner of last fall's G2 Mill Reef S., is likely to resurface later this fall in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Oct. 21. He was last seen finishing 13th in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 23.

“He's had a few niggly things after Ascot, but he's back in work and we're hoping to run him in something this autumn,” said Wall. “I don't think he'll be ready for the Haydock [Betfair Sprint Cup Sept. 9], that's not far away now so he won't make that. But we hope we might have him back for a run perhaps in the Champions Sprint and we'll go from there.

“It's been one of those years really where things haven't quite gone his way, but we hope we can get him back on track and if not we'll have to hope things go right for him next year instead.”

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Little Big Bear, who became the latest in a line of his stable's big guns to miss a beat in the 2000 Guineas, may actually get a mile in time but while he is so comfortable at these sprint trips and Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) is around it is a case of back to basics. As he sauntered back to winning ways in the G2 Sandy Lane S., it was as if that dull day at Newmarket where his brilliance was diminished never happened. Intriguingly, it was an experience shared with his key opponent and fellow TDN Rising Star Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who also struggled to cope with his speed edge bludgeoned by conditions on the Rowley Mile.

Sakheer's trainer Roger Varian was giving off all the right vibes on Thursday. “He looks like he could still be a high-class colt, we certainly believe he can be, and we're looking forward to Friday,” he said. “He had an easy time after the Guineas and we were always going to come to Ascot, but he's built up over the last few weeks into this race nicely, his work has been on point, he's been really well and we're hopeful.”

Newmarket woes also apply to the case of Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), who was among the backwash in the 1000 Guineas and now gravitates back to her comfort zone. She has to improve even off her G1 Cheveley Park S. win, which puts her on a virtual par with the now-retired Middle Park hero Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) who was always a few pounds adrift of Ballydoyle's champion last term. She and Sakheer are joined by the G2 Gimcrack S.-winning TDN Rising Star Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), so disappointing behind the revelation Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) in Newbury's Listed Carnarvon S. last time, in having a lot to find with an elite Little Big Bear but this is Royal Ascot where certainties have a way of unravelling.

The Gosdens showed on Wednesday and Thursday that they are never to be left out of the group 1 equation and despite her obvious experience deficit, Normandie Stud's TDN Rising Star Queen For You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) goes into the Coronation which her dam Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) won in 2012 as very much a live contender. It's not just about pedigree with her, however, as her performance when narrowly denied by Sounds Of Heaven (GB) (Kingman {GB}) with the run of the race favouring that Jessie Harrington raider in York's Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. confirmed her as a major talent.

“She is the least experienced in the field, but improved when upped in class at York and has taken that in her stride,” Thady said. “This is another major step up, but we feel she has every right to take her chance.” Kate Harrington added of Sounds Of Heaven, “She is lovely filly and a very underestimated filly who only does as much as she has to. She has a great mind and I think Ascot will really suit her. We're hopeful of a big, big run.”

In the opening G3 Albany S., the Crisfords' impressive Doncaster maiden winner Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will have an abundance of followers now that the time performance of that defeat of the subsequent 11-length-winning TDN Rising Star Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) is known. Lezoo's half-sister Navassa Island (Ire) (Territories {Ire}), now the property of Ecurie Ama Zingteam, also wowed with her sectionals despite going down to the re-opposing Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) on a spectacular debut in Naas's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S.

TDN Rising Stars Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Persian Dreamer (Calyx {GB}) are just two more in the mix in the Albany, which for the past three years has featured the following season's 1000 Guineas heroine in the beaten trio Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) and Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Interestingly, the Newmarket maiden taken by Mawj and Cachet prior to meeting their match here was won last month by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Jabaara (Ire), another daughter of Exceed And Excel with big hopes attached. “She will like the fast ground if it stays that way and six furlongs looks her trip for the moment,” Varian said. “She's an exciting filly, I think.”

Amo Racing broke their duck at the Royal meeting on Thursday and the racing and operations manager Tom Pennington is excited about their representative here. “I haven't lost any faith in Persian Dreamer, she was very impressive on debut,” he said. “The sharp five furlongs on quick ground at York in the Marygate has probably played against her and she didn't let herself down. She's a big, strong filly and just didn't enjoy the ground.”

In the day's other pattern race, the presence of Amo Racing's Derby runner-up King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has ensured a small line-up, with a trio of Derby disappointments engaged headed by Juddmonte's Arrest (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Jeff Smith's Artistic Star (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Roger Varian is keen to come back quickly from the Blue Riband, the form of which received a major boost with the win of Waipiro (Ire) (Australia {GB}) here on Thursday. “He has looked great from the day he got back from Epsom and is in good form,” he said. “He looked very good in defeat and that bodes well for this week, the rest of the season and beyond hopefully. These races are not easy to win, but he looks like a horse who will take us to the big spots and we look forward to Friday.”

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Owned by KHK Racing, the bay was named a Rising Star off of a victory at Haydock in September, and he ran out an open-length winner of the G2 Mill Reef S. at Newbury later that month. The Guineas was his first run at three.

“He's come out of the race well and most likely he will go straight to the Commonwealth Cup,” said Varian of his Royal Ascot-bound colt. “It was such a messy race the 2000 Guineas, it was almost a non-event for us. He made quite an eyecatching move in the race, but it was all happening away from him and maybe he just didn't get home the final 100 yards.

“We imagine a stiff six furlongs at Ascot is tailor-made for him.”

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Been There…

What is different to most 2000 Guineas of recent times, and this is probably testament to how strong a season 2022 was for the juveniles, is this is very much one for the already-proven performers with barely an unexposed type to be seen. Only four of the line-up have not contested at least two group races and, of those, the aforementioned Sakheer and Noble Style were denied a second pattern-race outing only by training setbacks. When it comes to establishing fitting credentials for this Classic, Juddmonte's Chaldean who has the combined Frankel and Frankie factor is out on his own.

Building a head of steam throughout the perfectly-aligned G1 Dewhurst S. stepping stones of the G3 Acomb S. and G2 Champagne S. over York and Doncaster's level courses, he duly conquered the undulations of this track on Future Champions Day to bring up a treble that would have been beyond a colt with less inherent quality. Yes, he would be an extremely rare Guineas winner with a “U” in his form, having lost Dettori at the start of the G3 Greenham S., but that unfortunate incident was a mere aberration and will serve only as a curious footnote if he masters his peers once again here.

If successful, one of the operation's rare purchases will be providing Andrew Balding with a second renewal in four years with only Aidan O'Brien, Sir Michael Stoute, Saeed bin Suroor and Andre Fabre having achieved that in recent times. The new face of Kingsclere is on his way to matching the kudos enjoyed by his father but of course the emphasis is on Frankie during the Italian's long goodbye tour.

Dettori, whose own father Gianfranco came and conquered here on Bolkonski (Ire) to start a new racing dynasty back in 1975, has the least-complicated tactical conundrum of all as he outlined when offering his insights as an ambassador for World Pool. “The way I see it, the fancied ones are drawn 11-13, so it's not ideal being away from them, but Chaldean is a horse who can go and run his own race,” he said. “He's got plenty of speed, so hopefully he can get away well and be right up there from the off, just like he was in the Dewhurst and the Champagne S. His form is very solid and you know exactly what you're getting with Chaldean–he's bombproof–whereas the others have a bit to prove. It's just a case of whether the others can step up to match or better what he's shown already.”

Bad News Bear?

Supporters of Auguste Rodin, and there are many judged by the way the betting market has moved in recent weeks, will be well-served to cast their minds back to 2002 which was the last time Aidan O'Brien ran two elite performers against each other here. Rock Of Gibraltar's defeat of Hawk Wing will live long in the memory largely due to the quality of the first two, but also because of the tactical nature of the edition with the not-unfamiliar field split playing out so dramatically on that occasion. There should be no repeat of that at least, with Little Big Bear drawn alongside his much-vaunted stablemate and fellow TDN Rising Star, but there is no guarantee that Ryan Moore's pick will be able to peg back what was one of the best 2-year-olds to have emerged since Frankel.

Despite the nature of Little Big Bear's G3 Anglesey S. and G1 Phoenix S. performances, which suggested strongly that a mile would be well within his compass, there was talk of Nunthorpes until his injury cut short his campaign much as it did the yard's comparable past juvenile overlord Fasliyev. Without the proof that runs in the Vincent O'Brien National S. or Dewhurst would have provided, it is probably not far of the mark to state that even those closest to him are not sold on what type of runner he will turn out to be.

As a benchmark of brilliance, of both the permanent and precocious variety, Little Big Bear's scintillating seven-length defeat of the G2 July S. winner Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is Guineas-winning form in practically every year, even allowing for stamina concerns. Should he use his physicality to pull away Zafonic-style in what the old school used to call “the last 2-year-old race”, nobody can be truly surprised.

Ryan Moore knows both the Rosegreen undergraduates, who he states are “the two best horses in here”, better than anybody and the man with the hardest call offered the big reveal in his Betfair blog. “Little Big Bear clearly has a lot of pace, but I personally think he will stay a mile and that makes him a very dangerous rival to all,” he said. “Auguste Rodin is an exciting prospect for the season, but hopefully for the here and now, too. But would it surprise me if Little Big Bear beat him? Not really.”

One Eye On The Commonwealth…

   A glance at the 2000 Guineas records of winners of the six-furlong G2 Richmond S. and G2 Mill Reef S. offers little statistical hope for Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Sakheer and, while the former did go close in the Dewhurst, there have to be doubts as to how they will cope with a strong-run mile on easy ground. While this renewal looks set to boast an above-average Guineas winner, it is also on the cards that it could contain a Commonwealth Cup winner once the dust has settled and the various teams regroup for Royal Ascot and Epsom.

Sakheer's connections were already in the dark about the mile and, ominously, Friday's lightning storm led to a flag start to the last race. After the double-whammy of rain on already-watered ground, they are understandably anxious. “Ideally we wouldn't want too much more rain,” KHK Racing's racing manager Chris Wall said. “I was a little exasperated to see that Michael Prosser had started to water the track, which seems rather an unnecessary thing to do, given that we have had the wettest spring for 40 years but there we go. The horse couldn't be in better condition and we're looking forward to the day. He's a very talented horse, but we're not sure yet what his best trip might be.”

Tahiyra Faces Big 1000 Guineas Field

Dermot Weld will be one trainer not unhappy to see Friday's rain after he confirmed The Aga Khan's undefeated G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine and TDN Rising Star Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) among a cast of 20 for Sunday's G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas. Handed stall 15 for the feature, the half-sister to connections' luminary Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) will be reopposed by the Moyglare runner-up and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) as Ballydoyle's lone representative after another of the stable's leading lights Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is kept back for either ParisLongchamp or The Curragh.

Chris Hayes has the task of trying to provide Weld with a first 1000 Guineas and said, “She looked terribly exciting [in the Moyglare], she seems to have wintered well so I'm looking forward to it. I'm very excited, to get on any favourite in a Classic is rare, for me it's the stuff of dreams so we'll see what we can do. Obviously, like the boss has said, there's always the question if they train on from two to three, but on her home work she appears to have and she's just a pleasure. She'll never get you excited going up the gallops but she turns it on at the races.”

Alongside Never Ending Story, Juddmonte's G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. winner Juliet Sierra (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) was the only other not to be confirmed and Godolphin's decision to run a trio of contenders is one of many indicators that very few are running scared of the Weld filly. This is the biggest assembly since Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) mastered 20 rivals in 2007, two years before Saeed bin Suroor enjoyed his last English Classic victory. The trainer has live prospects of ending that drought with TDN Rising Star Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who bids to confirm the form of the Jumeirah Fillies Classic with William Buick's pick of Charlie Appleby's duo, Dream Of Love (Ire) (Shamardal).

Amo Racing's Classic dream lives on through the impressive G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner Mammas Girl (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who is nearest the stand's rail in 20 while on the opposite wing is Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen's G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). She gives Ralph Beckett a strong hand along with Julian Richmond-Watson's unbeaten G3 Fred Darling S. scorer Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in a fascinating encounter which could yet be shaped by the local storm.

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AUGUSTE RODIN (IRE), Deep Impact (Jpn)–Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'
Owner: M Tabor & D Smith & Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: First foal out of the top-class triple Group 1 winner Rhododendron, who achieved her top-flight successes in the Fillies' Mile, Prix de l'Opera and Lockinge S. Rhododendron is a full-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Magical and Group 3 winner Flying The Flag and is herself a daughter of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). Auguste Rodin is already proven over the trip and should get further. Deserved favourite.

CHALDEAN (GB), Frankel (GB)–Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB})
Owner: Juddmonte
Breeder: Whitsbury Manor Stud
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Sales History: 550,000gns Tattersalls December foal
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The sixth foal out of the unraced Dutch Art mare Suelita, who has produced high-class horses over sprint trips, including Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), winner of the G2 Mill Reef S. and now standing at Castlefield Stud for €5,000. Slight question mark on whether he will see out the mile and, despite coming into the race off the back of a mishap in the Greenham, he brings arguably the best 2-year-old form to the table.

CHARYN (IRE), (Dark Angel {Ire})–Futoon (Ire) (Kodiac {Ire})
Owner: Nurlan Bizakov
Breeder: Grangemore Stud
Trainer: Roger Varian
Sales History: 250,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: A full-brother to Wings Of War (Ire), a smart operator in Britain over six furlongs for Clive Cox before being sold to Hong Kong. The dam is listed-placed and a five-furlong winner who hails from a speedy family being a daughter of a winning-sister to G2 Mill Reef S. winner Galeota (Ire) (Mujadil). No match for Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the G3 Greenham S. and career-best needed to get involved.

DUBAI MILE (IRE), Roaring Lion–Beach Bunny (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire})
Owner: Ahmad Al Shaikh
Breeder: Skymarc Farm
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Sales History: €20,000 Goffs Orby yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The ninth foal out of notable performer Beach Bunny, a listed winner and multiple group-placed for Lady O'Reilly, including when second in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh. Has produced two black-type performers–Naadirr (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Beach Belle (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire})–as well as nine individual winners from as many runners. Tough task given he showed his best form at two when battling to G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud glory over an extra couple of furlongs on heavy ground. May not have the pace required.

FLIGHT PLAN (GB), Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Romp (GB) (Pivotal {GB})
Owner: Clipper Logistics
Breeder: Miss K J Keir
Trainer: Karl Burke
Sales History: 150,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The fourth foal out of a half-sister to Group 2-winning miler Robadallo (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) who has already produced a winner in Hot Affair (GB) (Ivawood {Ire}). Warmed up for this with a second-placed effort in a listed contest on the all-weather at Newcastle. Lots to find on all known form.

GALERON (IRE), Camacho (Ire)–Society Gal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Teme Valley & Aura (Gas) Holdings Ltd
Breeder: Gigginstown House Stud
Trainer: Charlie Hills
Sales History: €45,000 Goffs Orby yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The ninth foal and half-brother to five individual winners. Dam is an unraced half-sister to Group 3 winner in America Good Mood (Ire) (Danehill Dancer (Ire). Experienced runner but plenty to find on the protagonists.

HI ROYAL (IRE), Kodiac (GB)–Majestic Roi (Street Cry {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'
Owner: Jaber Abdullah
Breeder: Rabbah Bloodstock Limited
Trainer: Kevin Ryan
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Half-brother to five winners including black-type performers over a mile and upwards Noor Al Hawa (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) and Majestic Jasmine (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). Dam won the G1 Sun Chariot S. Unexposed with just three runs under his belt and one of the more interesting outsiders.

HOLLOWAY BOY (GB), Ulysses (Ire)–Sultry (GB) (Pivotal {GB})
Owner: Nick White & Mrs. E Burke
Breeder: Cheveley Park Stud, Ltd.
Trainer: Karl Burke
Sales History: 60,000gns Tattersalls December foal; 60,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling.
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The listed winner has placed four times at group level and was third in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. This is the family of G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Gay Gallanta (Woodman) and her son, the multiple group winner and sire Byron (GB) (Green Desert). Has already found several too good over course-and-distance last autumn.

INDESTRUCTIBLE (IRE), Kodiac (GB)–Shareva (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire})
Owner: Amo Racing, Ltd.
Breeder: Tally-Ho Stud
Trainer: Karl Burke
Sales History: 55,000gns, vendor, Tattersalls October Book 2;  €150,000 Arqana Breeze-Up Sale.
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Successful in the G2 Champagne S. at two, the bay is out of a half to three-time group winner Shamreen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and G3 Singspiel S. hero Shahroze (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Shamreen has thrown G2 Railway S. winner Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), twice placed at the highest level. Best on the day in the G3 Greenham S. after Chaldean's ill luck, but would need to bring his absolute top effort.

LITTLE BIG BEAR (IRE), No Nay Never–Adventure Seeker (Fr) (Bering {GB})
'TDN Rising Star'
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Mangier, M Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Cammas Park Stud & Summerhill
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Sales History: €320,000 Arqana August Yearling Sale.
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: A winner of the G1 Phoenix S. and G3 Anglesey S., the son of stakes winner and G3 Prix Cleopatra runner-up Adventure Seeker counts five-time Group 1 winner All Along (Fr) (Targowice) as his third dam. Not as long-winded has his stablemate, but a classy individual regardless. It will be his first time going beyond 6 1/2 furlongs.

NOBLE STYLE (GB), Kingman (GB)–Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB})
'TDN Rising Star'
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Chasemore Farm
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Sales History: 525,000gns Tattersalls October Yearling Book 1.
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Out of a listed-winning half-sister to Listed Chesham S. winner Arthur Kitt (GB) (Camelot {GB}) who ran third in the G3 Solario S., the G2 Gimcrack S. victor's second dam is G2 Queen Mary S. winner Ceiling Kitty (GB) (Red Clubs {Ire}). One of the leading fancies, and could avenge his sire's runner-up finish in the 2014 edition.

ROYAL SCOTSMAN (IRE), Gleneagles (Ire)–Enrol (GB) (Pivotal {GB})
Owner: Mrs Fitri Hay
Breeder: Rabbah Bloodstock, Ltd.
Trainer: Paul & Oliver Cole
Sales History: 125,000gns Tattersalls October Yearling Book 2.
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The G2 Richmond S. winner and G1 Dewhurst S. runner-up is out of a multiple stakes-placed granddaughter of the stakes-winning mare Appointed One (Danzig), herself a half-sister to G1 Futurity S. winner Bakharoff (The Minstrel). One of the better prospects, and his sire was responsible for a brace of Italian Guineas winners on the weekend.

SAKHEER (IRE), Zoffany (Ire)–Shortmile Lady (Ire) (Arcano {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'
Owner: KHK Racing, Ltd.
Breeder: Drumlin Bloodstock
Trainer: Roger Varian
Sales History: 80,000gns Tattersalls December Foal Sale ; $65,000 RNA, Keeneland September; €550,000 Arqana Breeze-Up Sale.
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Already a half-brother to multiple group/graded winner Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass) who ran third in the GI Beverly D. S., the G2 Mill Reef S. hero is from the same family as GI Kentucky Derby-winning filly Winning Colors (Caro {Ire}). Bolted up by six lengths at Haydock and maintained his brilliance at Newbury, but has never been beyond six furlongs.

SILVER KNOTT (GB), Lope De Vega (Ire)–God Given (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire})
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: St Albans Bloodstock, LLP
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Sales History: 725,000gns Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: A dual Group 3 winner before running second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, Silver Knott is out of Italian Group 1 winner God Given, herself a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner-turned Darley sire Postponed (Ire) (Dubaw {Ire}). His third dam is G1 Moyglare Stud heroine Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse). Already a winner over this trip and surface and he was a whisker behind Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) at Keeneland.

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A winner of four of his six starts, the G1 Dewhurst S. hero is one of two in the one-mile race for Andrew Balding. Second in the Dewhurst, G2 Richmond S. scorer Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) will attempt to turn the tables for Mrs. Fitri Hay and trainers Paul and Oliver Cole.

Ahmad Al Shaikh's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion) remains in the race for Charlie Johnston, as do the Godolphin/Charlie Appleby pair of G2 Gimcrack S. winner Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

The Coolmore partners and Aidan O'Brien field a quintet led by Group 1 scorers Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never). G3 Killavullan S. hero Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) is also signed on, as is G3 2000 Guineas Trial S. winner Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Third behind Auguste Rodin and Tuesday's Listed Weatherbys Digital Solutions Blue Riband Trial hero Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the Vertem Futurity Trophy, Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is one of three in the race for Karl Burke. Burke runner Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who won the G3 Craven S. over the course-and-distance of the Guineas, will also take part. Group winners Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) hail from the stable of Roger Varian.

There is also still a chance of a royal runner, as the King and Queen Consort's two-for-two Slipofthepen (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) has also retained his entry for John and Thady Gosden.

In the fillies' equivalent on Sunday, May 7, 26 nominees have stood their ground, among them Group 1 winners Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), and Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) for trainers Ralph Beckett, Aidan O'Brien, and Dermot Weld, respectively.

Beckett has also entered G3 Fred Darling S. heroine Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}), while Hugo Palmer trains the runner-up in Stenton Glider (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). Juddmonte's Juliet Siera (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), a Group 3 winner, is also part of Beckett's Guineas challenge.

The first and second-place finishers from the G3 Nell Gwyn S. also have entries in Mammas Girl (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) for Richard Hannon and Fairy Cross (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Charlie Appleby. Saeed bin Suroor's G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. heroine and G1 Cheveley Park S. third Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) has been entered. G2 May Hill S. heroine Polly Pott (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) for trainer Ben Pauling is also part of the fray.

O'Brien is double-fisted in the Guineas, as his G3 1000 Guineas Trial S. victress Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) defeated Kieran Cotter's Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) by 2 1/2 lengths at Leopardstown earlier this month.

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Sakheer's absence means that fellow TDN Rising Star Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}) takes on the mantle as favourite, with Sir Michael Stoute booking Richard Kingscote for the G3 Tattersalls S. winner. Ryan Moore, who partnered the Juddmonte homebred on his two previous starts, rides Ballydoyle's sole entry Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never), another TDN Rising Star who looks to add to his G2 Futurity S. and provide Aidan O'Brien with a record-equalling eighth renewal. Other than Nostrum, Juddmonte have a strong hand as the Andrew Balding-trained G2 Champagne S. and G3 Acomb S. winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lines up with Frankie Dettori in the saddle, while Charlie Appleby relies on the unbeaten Listed Pat Eddery S. and Listed Ascendant S. scorer Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}).

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“His work has always been very good at home and we thought he would win first time, but he ran into a smart filly at Windsor [Magical Sunset],” said Varian. “He then won well at Haydock and he looks good. How good, I don't know, but he is possibly the best of my 2-year-olds. He has size and scope, he's very exciting and I think he'll stay seven furlongs or a mile. You can never really expect things to go as well for us as it has today, but everything is clicking. He is in the [G1] Middle Park, but it's next week. It's very soon, so we'll have to see.”

Sakheer, who was the highest-priced lot when knocked down for €550,000 at this year's Arqana Breeze-Up sale, is the fifth of seven foals and one of three scorers produced by a half-sister to G3 Prix de Meautry winner Indian Maiden (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), herself the dam of G3 World Trophy victrix Maid In India (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) and the dual stakes-winning G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis second Love Spirit (GB) (Elusive City). The February-foaled bay, who hails from the family of Winning Colors (Caro {Ire}) and Chief's Crown (Danzig), is a half-brother to multiple Group-winning GI Beverly D. S. third Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass), a yearling colt by Exceed And Excel (Aus) and a weanling filly by Sea The Stars (Ire).

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
DUBAI DUTY FREE MILL REEF S.-G2, £84,250, Newbury, 9-17, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.53, gd.
1–SAKHEER (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Zoffany (Ire)
1st Dam: Shortmile Lady (Ire), by Arcano (Ire)
2nd Dam: Jinsiyah, by Housebuster
3rd Dam: Minifah, by Nureyev
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (80,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; $65,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; €550,000 2yo '22 ARQMAY). O-KHK Racing; B-Drumlin Bloodstock (IRE); T-Roger Varian; J-David Egan. £47,778. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $63,902. *1/2 to Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass), MGSW-Ire, GSW & GISP-USA, $386,350. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rousing Encore (Ire), 129, c, 2, Acclamation (GB)–Jolie Chanson (Fr), by Mount Nelson (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (57,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 32,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Paul K Spencer; B-Hunting Hill Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey. £18,114.
3–Charyn (Ire), 129, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Futoon (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (250,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Grangemore Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £9,065.
Margins: 3HF, 3/4, NK. Odds: 0.80, 20.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Shouldvebeenaring (GB), Wallop (Ire), Mustajaab (GB), Heroism (Ire).

Impressive!

Sakheer is a decisive winner of the Group 2 @DDFRacing Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, cruising clear to complete a four-timer on the card for jockey @DavidEgan99 on what is turning into a remarkable afternoon for trainer @varianstable pic.twitter.com/t9huXswU6R

— Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) September 17, 2022

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All About Me

Of the seven other group races across Britain and France on Saturday, three are for the juveniles with Ayr's Gold Cup meeting including the six-furlong G3 Virgin Bet Firth of Clyde Fillies' S. in which Jaber Abdullah's Aug. 18 G2 Lowther S. runner-up Queen Me (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) bids to continue the winning momentum for Kevin Ryan here. Ryan Moore heads to Chantilly to partner Ballydoyle's Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) in the G3 Prix de Conde over nine furlongs, with his mount in pole position having beaten the subsequent G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in Deauville's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage Aug. 20. He may have most to fear from the Wertheimers' Precious Sea (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a daughter of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Indonesienne (Ire) (Muhtathir {GB}) who had the subsequent G2 Prix du Calvados scorer Wed (Fr) (Profitable {Ire}) back in second in a seven-furlong conditions event at La Teste de Buch July 13. In the six-furlong G3 Prix Eclipse, an intriguing contender is Stall Ritterbusch's impressive Aug. 4 Deauville winner Bodyman (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) from the Andreas Suborics stable.

Click here for the group fields.

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