Oxagon entered the 2000 Guineas picture with a dominant front‑running win in the Betway Craven Stakes, a performance that has instantly put him on the radar of anyone tracking the early‑season Classic contenders. The race, which was missing the Futurity Trophy winner Hawk Mountain and the promising youngster Hankelow because the ground was too firm, saw the dual Kempton winner Hidden Force start as the 11‑10 favourite. That made Oxagon’s 7‑4 price an attractive option for punters looking for a fresh face to challenge the established names.
The colt had not been seen in action since a disappointing last‑place finish behind Hawk Mountain at Doncaster in October, a race that was run on testing, heavy ground. Yet, on his seasonal debut, fitted with a fresh set of cheekpieces for the first time, Oxagon responded brilliantly. Under a perfectly timed ride from Oisin Murphy, he settled just off the pace before taking command in the straight and pulling away to win by two lengths. The victory was comfortable, decisive, and suggested that the equipment change had sharpened his focus.
John Gosden, who trains the horse alongside his son Thady, was effusive in the post‑race interview. He recalled that after Oxagon’s win at Sandown the previous year the stable had held him in high regard, but admitted that a mistake was made at Doncaster when the colt was entered in the Champagne Stakes on unsuitable ground.
"We probably let the race get away from us at Doncaster," Gosden said, "and the heavy ground in the Futurity was a mistake. Fortunately, the jockey pulled him up after two furlongs and gave him a day out, which turned out to be wise." He added that the cheekpieces, first tried in a work session, seemed to give the horse a mental edge, keeping his attention on the race rather than the surrounding distractions.
The win also gave Gosden another Craven triumph, the first of which came a year earlier with Field Of Gold. Despite that success, the trainer still seeks his first 1000 Guineas victory, a goal that has eluded him despite his impressive résumé.
Bookmakers responded to Oxagon’s performance by halving his odds from 50‑1 to 25‑1, reflecting the growing belief that he could be a serious Guineas contender. Murphy, who rode Oxagon, believes the race was an open‑ended trial and that the horse’s performance shows he can handle the mile distance of the Guineas.
"It doesn’t worry me that I’ve never won the Guineas," Gosden laughed. "Everyone thinks I lose sleep over it, but the horse deserves a chance, and we’ll enjoy the day and hope he’s in great order." He also noted that the winner of last year’s Craven displayed a phenomenal turn of foot, and while Oxagon may not have that same burst, his consistency and composure make him a credible threat. Across the paddock, other trainers voiced their own ambitions.
Roger Varian, whose Avicenna finished second to Oxagon, praised the race’s pace and the quality of the ground, saying, "It was a hard track to make up ground on when it rides quick, but the winner had experience and probably had the run of the race. I’m pleased with how my horse handled it and will consider Newmarket or Longchamp for the Guineas later in the season." Varian’s comments underscore the open nature of this year’s Classic campaign, with several horses still in contention for both the English and French Guineas. The meeting also produced a surprise victory in the Zyn Abernant Stakes at Newmarket. Veteran sprinter Run To Freedom, an eight‑year‑old trained by Henry Candy, defied his long odds of 28‑1 to win by three‑quarters of a length.
After a mixed season that saw him beaten in higher‑grade sprints, the colt was dropped back to Group Three level, where he displayed his classic stamina and finishing speed. Candy highlighted the horse’s extensive pool work and his ability to handle uphill finishes, noting, "He travelled beautifully through the race and really stretched when he hit the rising ground. He may not be the greatest Abernant ever, but he had a good chance and proved his class today." In another noteworthy performance, Portcullis, a son of Frankel and the first foal bred by the King and Queen, delivered a spectacular debut win in the Betway Wood Ditton Maiden at Newmarket.
Starting at 7‑1, the colt looked unsettled at the start but quickly found his rhythm, surged forward at the halfway point, and accelerated to win by five and a half lengths under Ryan Moore. Gosden praised the colt’s turn of foot and composure, while racing manager John Warren, who helped arrange the mating plan before Queen Elizabeth II’s death, expressed excitement about the colt’s future, saying, "He’s only on the first rung of the ladder, but it’s an exciting ladder and we’re on it." Overall, the Craven meeting delivered a blend of expected triumphs and surprising upsets, setting the stage for an intriguing Guineas season. Oxagon’s front‑running display, bolstered by new equipment, suggests he could be a genuine threat over a mile, while the strong showings from Avicenna, Run To Freedom, and Portcullis add depth to the pool of potential Classic contenders. Trainers across the country will now be watching the training gallops closely, adjusting their plans, and hoping that the form they have seen today translates into success on the grandest stages of the British flat racing calendar.