Oxagon Boosts Guineas Hopes with Craven Stakes Victory

Oxagon has strengthened his claim for the 2000 Guineas with a commanding win in the Betway Craven Stakes, beating dual Kempton scorer Hidden Force. The victory marked a successful seasonal debut for Oxagon, who was ridden by Oisin Murphy and benefited from the addition of cheekpieces. Trainer John Gosden, who co-trains Oxagon with his son Thady, expressed his delight with the performance, stating that the horse has trained well and the cheekpieces have helped focus his mind. Oxagon's odds for the Guineas have been cut to 25-1, and connections are considering a run in the Classic. Meanwhile, Roger Varian's Avicenna finished second and also has Guineas ambitions, with the trainer indicating that the horse may run at Newmarket or ParisLongchamp. In other racing news, veteran sprinter Run To Freedom scored a surprise win in the Zyn Abernant Stakes, while Portcullis, a son of Frankel, made a spectacular debut with a five-and-a-half-length victory in the Betway Wood Ditton Maiden.