The highly anticipated Spring Trials weekend kicks off at Newbury, featuring an exciting lineup of races, including the Darley EBF Novice Stakes. Charlie Appleby's Shabab Al Ahli, a Frankel colt, is set to compete against Sahara King in the feature race, following an impressive win at Southwell in February. Appleby previously won the inaugural race in 2023 with Military Order.
Other notable contenders include My Love Is King, trained by Gosden, and Gilded Prize, a promising Frankel filly, who will be competing in the Henri Matisse Coolmore Prix Cleopatre. This event serves as a stepping stone for potential contenders in the Epsom Classic and the Prix de Diane. The weekend's racing action will be broadcast on Sky Sports Racing, offering thrilling matchups, including the Greenham Stakes, where Zavateri and Albert Einstein will face off. Meanwhile, at Newmarket, recent winners such as Oxagon and Azleet have made significant strides, with the latter entering the 1000 Guineas contention.
The owners' European Racing Manager, Barry Mahon, has expressed enthusiasm for Gilded Prize, indicating that a strong performance could lead to a start at Chantilly over the Epsom Oaks. The 2.32pm Bridget 'Confined' Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Newbury boasts an impressive array of pedigrees, with Synchronicity, a full-sister to Ombudsman, being a notable contender. Other top owners, including Juddmonte and Shadwell, will also be represented in the race.
The Harry Charlton yard will field Sapphire Secret, a Kingman filly, while Flying the flag for Shadwell is the Gosden-trained Seet, a half-sister to the reigning champion filly Kalpana. William Haggas, who has won three of the last five renewals of the race, will send Song Of The Clouds into battle, a daughter of Night Of Thunder related to Group 3 winner Mighty Ulysses. Time Lock's full sister, Take A View, will make her debut in Newbury's Dreweatts Maiden Fillies' Stakes, facing a competitive field of newcomers and experienced horses, including Allaire, who will be ridden by Oisin Murphy.
At Bath, Jack Morland's Hunky Dory will tackle the MJ Church Handicap, shouldering a 5lb penalty after a convincing win at Wolverhampton, while Jax Edge seeks to build on her previous win.