In a remarkable turn of events, Alparslan emerged victorious in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury, outpacing highly touted competitors Zavateri and Albert Einstein. The win marked a significant milestone for Karl Burke's charge, who had previously shown promise in his juvenile campaign. With this triumph, Alparslan has solidified his position as a genuine contender for the 2000 Guineas.
The race was dominated by Aidan O'Brien's Albert Einstein and Eve Johnson Houghton's Group One winner Zavateri, but Alparslan, under the skilled guidance of Clifford Lee, seized the opportunity to take the lead and never looked back. Despite facing challenges from the favored duo, Alparslan demonstrated his prowess, crossing the finish line with a length to spare over Zavateri. Burke expressed his delight with the performance, stating that Alparslan has always been entitled to improve and has now beaten the right horses to make a strong case for himself.
The trainer acknowledged that the track might not be an issue for Alparslan, but it remains a question mark, and they will consider both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas as potential targets. Meanwhile, Zavateri's handler, Johnson Houghton, was pleased with her charge's honest second-place finish, despite being fresh and facing a slow pace.
The decision on which Guineas to target will be made in the coming week, with France being the least likely option. In contrast, Albert Einstein's connections will reassess their strategy after the horse came home in third, with distance being a key point of discussion.
Elsewhere, Sukanya staged a stunning comeback to win the Dubai Duty Free Stakes, denting the Classic aspirations of Touleen. The winner, trained by Jack Channon, demonstrated her high level of class, and her connections are now considering supplementing her for the 1000 Guineas. Touleen's trainer, Owen Burrows, had no major excuses for his charge's defeat, attributing it to possible rustiness. The Guineas remains a possibility, provided the filly comes out of the race unscathed.
In other news, Convergent defied congestion to win the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes, with Karl Burke and Clifford Lee dreaming of bigger days ahead. The victory marked a welcome return to the big time for Lee, who had been sidelined due to a quadbike accident. Burke believes Convergent has earned the right to mix it with elite company, with the Coronation Cup and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes being potential targets.