Lockinge Stakes - what the connections say

The Grade 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes will be run at Newbury on Saturday and Sporting Life spoke to the trainers.

 What the connections say

William Haggas - My Prospero: “I hope he’s got a big season ahead of him. I wanted very much to run him in the Paradise Stakes at Ascot, but his scope wasn’t very good. The reason I wanted to run there was to see if he was quick enough for the Queen Anne, or the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. I’m pretty sure he’s Prince of Wales’s.

“So, having missed that, we are then a bit on the back foot, and it was either this or the Prix d’Ispahan (May 29), and I thought the d’Ispahan was a bit too close to Ascot for his first run, so we’re coming here. I’m pretty sure a mile is not his best trip, but he’s fresh and well and I think he’ll run a nice race.

“He is a good horse, but I think he’s more of a 10-furlong horse and I think he’ll end up in the Prince of Wales’s, but I think he deserves a crack at a Group One anyway. I don’t see the point in going for a lesser race at this stage now. The Paradise was right, but that didn’t happen, so there we go.”

Barry Mahon, racing manager for Laurel owner Juddmonte: “Laurel is very unexposed. It’s a big jump up again into Group One company and taking on colts, but John and Thady are happy with her and it looked a nice fit for her on a nice track with good ground. Last year we threw her in the deep end after two easy wins and it looked for a minute like she was going to pull it off in big style.

“That day there was a little bit of bias towards the stands’ side and I think a combination of greenness and the other horse just getting a nice run up the rail saw her just get run out of it late on. Her comeback win at Kempton was good and blew away the cobwebs, and hopefully that will set her up to run a good race in this. She’s training nicely so we’re hopeful of a nice run.”

"He's the one they all have to beat" 

Angus Gold, racing manager for Mutasaabeq owner Shadwell Estates: “It was a nice performance last time. I was obviously really pleased with him and he did it under a penalty. Charlie has been really pleased with the way he has come out of the race and he’s looking fantastic. He has a good record at Newmarket, but there’s no obvious reason why he shouldn’t be just as effective at Newbury. The difference with him is that he appears to have matured a bit. On the evidence of that one run, his behaviour was much better and he appears to be a more relaxed horse.

“I don’t think Charlie feels he needs blinkers, as he never wears them at home, but they might help him concentrate a bit more. I don’t think he’d be afraid to take them off him as time goes by. Let’s hope he turns up in the same sort of form as he did at Newmarket, as it will take a good one to beat him.”

David Simock - Light Infantry: “It was a satisfactory return. We got a bit of freshness out of him and we’re looking forward to Saturday. He’s proven he’s a Group 1 performer. He’s rated 119 and he’s a very decent horse. It is very open Lockinge – the betting suggests that – and I should think everybody thinks they’ve got a little shout, so it just shows how open it is.”

Ed Crisford - Jadoomi: “He’s in great order and we’re looking forward to it. We don’t want the ground to dry out too much for him, but he’s in really good form and I expect a big run from him. The way he’s training, I’m hopeful and there could be more to come from him, I’m sure.”

Charlie Appleby - Modern Games: “Hopefully, this will be the opportunity for Modern Games to win a Group One in the UK. We know that he is a crack miler and he goes here with the benefit of a run under his belt. Conditions at Newbury should suit, especially with the drying ground, and he is going to be a big player.”