Big Rock Cracks

Last weekend Newbury hosted the Lockinge Stakes - the first Group 1 for the older horses. Inspiral was hoping to start her season off with a bang, with French raider Big Rock looking to pick up from where he left off after his six length win at Ascot in October 2023.

Big Rock's owners, Yeguada Centurion, had recently made the big decision to switch stables from top trainer Christopher Head to Italian born, Maurizio Guarnieri, who has yet to record a Group 1 winner.

There were plenty of questions as the gates opened for the Lockinge. Rab Havlin aboard Audience was the first to show, blazing a trail for Inspiral.

Big Rock almost dived out of the stalls, so had to be restrained for the first furlong, but jockey Aurelien Lemaitre let him travel strongly towards the front. By this time Inspiral had taken up a position to the rear on the far side.

Reaching halfway, Inspiral still had to make a move, whilst Big Rock was trying to assert himself over Audience, who was still holding strong.

Big Rock got a shake up but Audience still wouldn’t give up the lead and extended away from the group by five lengths.

Charyn was the only one to try and bridge the gap but it was too late and Audience made the Group 1 Lockinge his own.

Out of the three Group 1s in Britain, the winners have come in at prices of 16/1, 28/1 and 22/1. The results have therefore come as somewhat of a shock to most.

Afterwards, Big Rock’s run was put down to his stumbling out of the stalls.

Before Saturday, there were more trials for Epsom up North, as York opened its doors for the first time this season. Although, we were still left in the dark about who would be the one to beat in both the Oaks and the Derby.

On Wednesday, the Musidora Oaks Trial was supposed to be won by odds-on shot, unbeaten Friendly Soul but instead was upstaged by Secret Satire at 22/1.

The filly had come third in the “Wild Card” novice stakes at Sandown before, and certainly lived up to the race title’s name after pulling hard in the early stages made decent ground before keeping on inside the final furlong, with Friendly Soul nowhere to be seen.

On Thursday, the most successful Derby Trial was hoping to give a more definitive answer. Futurity Stakes winner Ancient Wisom made his seasonal return, hoping for a comfortable run out before the first Saturday in June.

However, the well-bred Economics won the Dante Stakes by six lengths, beating Ancient Wisdom in a rout.

It looks like Ancient Wisdom will be the horse to go for the Derby as Economics was ruled out of both the Derby and Prix du Jockey Club confirmed this morning by trainer William Haggas.

On Friday there was a mouth-watering clash in the Yorkshire Cup, which saw the Winter hero Tower of London return, along with former Cheltenham winner Vauban and last year’s winner Giavellotto.

It was Giavellotto who fended off Vauban to make his record two from three at York. Tower Of London finished down the field.

Next weekend is a busy one as Haydock, York and Goodwood headline in the UK, whilst the Irish Guineas weekend is set to go ahead at the Curragh.