The highly anticipated Spring Trials weekend commences at Newbury, with Shabab Al Ahli facing off against Sahara King in the day's featured race. Charlie Appleby's Southwell winner, Shabab Al Ahli, is set to compete in the Darley EBF Novice Stakes, having earned a 33-1 quote for the Derby following a convincing win under Conor Planas in February. The Frankel colt will be stepping down in distance and is expected to make a strong impression, potentially paving the way for a future bid at the Epsom Classic. Appleby's previous success in this race includes the inaugural running with Military Order in 2023.
Sahara King, meanwhile, has shown promise with a debut win at Wolverhampton in November, with the form of that race gaining substance following the subsequent success of Mohaaraj, who finished fourth. Another notable runner is My Love Is King, trained by Gosden, who holds a Derby entry and is currently at 40-1 after a comfortable win at Newcastle in November.
The classy Gilded Prize is also set to make an impact in the Henri Matisse Coolmore Prix Cleopatre, en route to the Prix de Diane at Chantilly. This scopey Frankel daughter has only run twice but has made a striking impression, including a standout performance under Colin Keane on her reappearance last month. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who had an exceptional season last year, may have unearthed another gem.
Other highlights include the Greenham Stakes, where Zavateri and Albert Einstein are among the top contenders, and the Bridget 'Confined' Maiden Fillies' Stakes, which features exciting pedigrees including Synchronicity, a full-sister to Ombudsman, and Sapphire Secret, a Kingman filly out of Whatami. The racing action also extends to Bath, where Hunky Dory faces a 5lb penalty in the MJ Church Handicap after a dominant win at Wolverhampton.