The highly anticipated Spring Trials weekend commences at Newbury, with Shabab Al Ahli set to face Sahara King in the day's feature race, the Darley EBF Novice Stakes. Charlie Appleby's Southwell winner, Shabab Al Ahli, a Frankel colt, earned a 33-1 quote for the Derby after a convincing win under Conor Planas in February. He will now tackle a shorter trip, aiming to assert his dominance and potentially pave the way for a tilt at the Epsom Classic.
Appleby previously won the inaugural running of this race in 2023 with Military Order, who later became a strong contender for the Derby. Sahara King, having won on debut at Wolverhampton in November, poses a notable challenge. His form is reinforced by the subsequent success of Mohaaraj, who finished fourth on that occasion.
Another debut winner, My Love Is King, trained by Gosden, also participates, holding a Derby entry and currently standing at 40-1 for the prestigious event after a comfortable win at Newcastle. The talented Gilded Prize is expected to excel in the Henri Matisse Coolmore Prix Cleopatre, en route to the Prix de Diane at Chantilly.
This impressive daughter of Frankel has made a remarkable start to her career in the Juddmonte colours, winning straightforwardly on the polytrack before stretching clear of her rivals on reappearance. Her trainer, Francis-Henri Graffard, had an exceptional season last year and may have uncovered another gem. Today's racing action also includes the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, where Zavateri and Albert Einstein are set to clash. Other notable events include the Bridget 'Confined' Maiden Fillies' Stakes, featuring promising pedigrees such as Synchronicity, a full-sister to the accomplished Ombudsman, and Sapphire Secret, a Kingman filly out of Whatami.
The Dreweatts Maiden Fillies' Stakes sees the debut of Take A View, full sister to Time Lock, against experienced competitors like Allaire.