A fantastic entry of 36 has been received for the Lockinge S. (Eng-G1) at
Exciting international entries are headlined by U.S. Horse of the Year
He won on his only appearance on turf, capturing the Hollywood Derby (G1)
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Another U.S.-trained entry is Mshawish (Medaglia d’Oro), successful in the
Gulfstream Park Turf (G1) in February and third in the Dubai Turf (UAE-G1) at
Meydan on March 28.
The Lockinge Stakes is the likely starting point for last year’s Breeders’
Cup Mile (G1) hero Karakontie (Bernstein). The four-year-old, who also enjoyed
classic success in the French Two Thousand Guineas (Fr-G1), is one of five
French-trained contenders for the Newbury race over a straight mile.
Alan Cooper, racing manager to Karakontie’s owner the Niarchos Family, said:
“Karakontie has wintered well and the Lockinge Stakes is the race we are looking
at. We will obviously have to see nearer the time but we feel he is a horse who
needs good ground so he may well make his reappearance at Newbury. We have also
entered a pacemaker, Maximum Velocity (Muhtathir).
“Karakontie won very well at the Breeders’ Cup and there was no fluke about
his performance in America. After he won the French Two Thousand Guineas, we got
him ready for the Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-G1) but he did not appreciate the
extra distance and it took him a long time to get over it.
“He was not really sparking and it was not until the second half of September
that he really began to flourish again. He got massacred in the (Prix de la)
Foret (Fr-G1) but kept improving and in California he was in top form.
“The objective after the Lockinge Stakes will be the Queen Anne S. (Eng-G1)
at Royal Ascot. Then you have got races like the Sussex S. (Eng-G1) and the Prix
Jacques les Marois (Fr-G1) — essentially he will be kept to the top mile
races.”
The French-trained contenders for the Lockinge are completed by 1 winner
Ectot (Hurricane Run), last season’s French Two Thousand Guineas runner-up
Prestige Vendome (Orpen) and high-class filly Bawina (Dubawi).
Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has entered last season’s Diamond
Jubilee S. (Eng-G1) runner-up Due Diligence (War Front) plus Cougar Mountain (Fastnet
Rock) and Oklahoma City (Oasis Dream).
Britain’s champion trainer Richard Hannon Jr. is likely to run last year’s
Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) victor Night of Thunder (Dubawi) and Toormore (Arakan),
who was Europe’s champion two-year-old in 2013.
Other high-profile entries include Integral (Dalakhani) and Rizeena (Iffraaj),
who are both dual Grade 1 winners.
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