Oxagon entered the Betway Craven Stakes with a front‑running style and delivered a decisive win, positioning himself as a serious contender for the season’s first Classic race. The field was missing two notable horses – Futurity Trophy winner Hawk Mountain and the promising three‑year‑old Hankelow – because the ground was drying out, leaving dual Kempton victor Hidden Force as the 11‑10 favourite and giving Charlie Appleby's stable a strong chance to make an impact in the early part of the campaign. Having not been seen since finishing last of five behind Hawk Mountain on testing ground at Doncaster in October, Oxagon was offered at 7‑4 for his seasonal debut. This was his first run wearing cheekpieces, a piece of equipment intended to sharpen his focus.
Under a controlled ride from Oisin Murphy, the colt settled comfortably in front and pulled away to win by two lengths, confirming that the new equipment had a positive effect. John Gosden, who trains Oxagon alongside his son Thady, praised the performance.
He recalled that after a win at Sandown the previous year the stable had high hopes for the horse, but a disappointing run at Doncaster in the Champagne Stakes had tempered expectations. Gosden admitted the colt had not finished strongly in the Dewhurst and that a heavy ground run in the Futurity had been ill‑advised, noting that the jockey wisely pulled him up after two furlongs to avoid further strain. "He’s trained well and the cheekpieces seem to have focused his mind," Gosden said.
"We tried them in a work session and liked the way he responded, so we kept them on for the race." The victory comes a year after Gosden’s other Craven winner, Field Of Gold, triumphed, yet the trainer still seeks his first 1000 Guineas win. Bookmakers have trimmed Oxagon’s odds from 50‑1 to 25‑1, reflecting growing confidence.
Gosden added, "Another Craven, we’re quite good at winning that! Oisin feels the Guineas will be open, so we’re going for it. It doesn’t bother me that I’ve never won it before – everyone thinks I lose sleep over it, but I’m just happy to have a runner in good shape." Other trainers also voiced their ambitions.
Roger Varian, whose Avicenna finished second to the Godolphin‑owned Hidden Force, said the race was a useful trial and hinted at possible Guineas entries for his horse either at Newmarket or at Longchamp in France. He noted the fast, pace‑favoured track made it difficult to make up ground and praised the winner’s experience, while also emphasizing that his own colt needed more schooling before tackling a front‑running role. In a separate story, veteran sprinter Run To Freedom surprised the crowd by winning the Zyn Abernant Stakes at Newmarket.
Eight‑year‑old Run To Freedom, trained by Henry Candy, had spent the previous three years away from the top level, but a strong showing in a work‑in‑the‑pool session convinced Candy to give him a chance at Group Three level. Riding for Rob Hornby, the horse produced a late burst to win by three‑quarters of a length, beating Aramram and Quinault. Candy explained that the colt had been upset in the stalls, as is typical for him, but once the race began he travelled beautifully, especially when the ground began to rise. He also highlighted the horse’s need for an uphill finish, noting that a flat track at Haydock the previous autumn had not suited him.
Run To Freedom now holds a handicap entry for next month’s Guineas meeting, but his trainer believes the horse is ready to return to pattern company after a disappointing end to the last season. Candy remarked, "He’s a gorgeous horse with huge ability and a fantastic pedigree. Nobody has wanted him for stud yet, but he deserves a chance." Meanwhile, the King and Queen’s colt Portcullis made a spectacular debut in the Betway Wood Ditton Maiden, a one‑mile race for unraced three‑year‑olds. Bred by the royal family and trained by John and Thady Gosden, the Frankel‑by‑line colt looked unsettled at the start but gradually found his rhythm, taking the lead a furlong out and pulling away to win by five and a half lengths at 7‑1.
Ryan Moore, who rode the colt, praised his smooth stride and composure. Gosden said, "He was a little lost leaving the gate, but he settled and travelled well. Ryan found a nice rhythm and let him run his race." The Gosdens cautioned against getting ahead of themselves, suggesting that the colt should be given a novice race to learn before stepping up to higher class. Racing manager John Warren, who helped arrange the mating that produced Portcullis, expressed his excitement, noting that the colt was part of the final breeding plans the late Queen Elizabeth II had approved before her death.
Warren recalled, "I was with the Queen the weekend before she died and proposed the matings to her. The plan was then taken to the King and Queen Camilla for final approval." Overall, the Craven meeting delivered a mix of promising performances and strategic insights. Oxagon’s front‑running win, bolstered by cheekpieces, has placed him firmly on the radar for the 2000 Guineas, while trainers like Varian and Candy see their horses as potential contenders for the classic races later in the season.
The royal colt Portcullis has added a bright new name to the Gosden stable’s roster, and the excitement surrounding his future reflects the broader optimism that the early‑season trials have generated across the British racing landscape.