Oxagon Achieves Craven Success for the In-Form Gosden Team

Oxagon has thrown his hat into the ring for the 2000 Guineas with a front-running victory in the Betway Craven Stakes. The dual Kempton scorer Hidden Force was the 11-10 favourite but Oxagon, not seen since finishing last of five behind Hawk Mountain in testing conditions at Doncaster in October, was a 7-4 shot for his seasonal debut in first-time cheekpieces. Oxagon benefited from a controlling ride by Oisin Murphy to win comfortably by two lengths. Trainer John Gosden said: "We were saying after he won at Sandown we had a high opinion of him and we probably let the race get away at Doncaster, but we'll probably see the winner Puerto Rico back here in two weeks' time." Bookmakers cut Oxagon's odds to 25-1 from 50-1 and connections are happy to roll the dice, with Gosden adding: "Another Craven, we're quite good at winning that! Oisin feels it's an open Guineas and we should go for it. It doesn't worry me that I've never won it. Everyone thinks I have sleepless nights about it, but it would be great to have a runner, so let's enjoy the day and hope the horse is in great order."