The highly anticipated Spring Trials weekend commences at Newbury, with Shabab Al Ahli set to face off against Sahara King in the day's featured race. Charlie Appleby's Southwell winner, Shabab Al Ahli, is entered in the Darley EBF Novice Stakes, having previously earned a quote of 33-1 for the Derby after a convincing win under Conor Planas in February.
This Frankel colt will be looking to assert his dominance over the field as he takes a step down in distance. Appleby has a strong track record in this event, having won the inaugural running in 2023 with Military Order, who went on to be a contender for the Derby that year. Sahara King, meanwhile, has shown promise with a debut win at Wolverhampton in November, with the form of that race gaining substance after the fourth-place finisher, Mohaaraj, subsequently achieved success. Another horse of note making his second start after a winning debut is My Love Is King, trained by Gosden, who holds a Derby entry and is currently priced at 40-1 for the prestigious event after a comfortable win at Newcastle.
The elegant Gilded Prize is poised to make a significant impact in the Henri Matisse Coolmore Prix Cleopatre, en route to a potential start at the Prix de Diane in Chantilly. This impressive daughter of Frankel, despite having only two starts under her belt, has made a striking impression early in her career, donning the Juddmonte colors. Her career began with a straightforward victory on the polytrack in November, followed by a breathtaking performance under Colin Keane on her reappearance last month.
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who had an extraordinary season last year, may have uncovered another gem. Other notable races include the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, where Zavateri and Albert Einstein are set to clash, and the Bridget 'Confined' Maiden Fillies' Stakes, which boasts an exciting array of pedigrees, including Synchronicity, a full-sister to the remarkable Ombudsman, and Sapphire Secret, a Kingman filly out of Whatami.
Flying the flag for Shadwell is the Gosden-trained Seet, half-sister to the reigning champion filly Kalpana. William Haggas, who has won three of the last five renewals of the race, enters Song Of The Clouds, a daughter of Night Of Thunder related to Group 3 winner Mighty Ulysses.
Debutantes like Take A View, full sister to Time Lock, will also be making their first starts, with experienced runners like Allaire posing a significant challenge. At Bath, Hunky Dory faces a 5lb penalty in the MJ Church Handicap after a dominating win at Wolverhampton, tackling the minimum distance for the first time.