Eleven elite class horses will compete for glory on Saturday, as the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes returns to Newbury Racecourse.
The showpiece Group One race of Newbury’s flat season, this £400,000 event will see a field packed with quality face off on the 18th.
Heading up the top-quality line up is Inspiral. A six time Group One winner, trained by John and Thady Gosden for the Cheveley Park Stud and a five-year-old daughter of the legendary Frankel, is due to carry bottom weight as the only mare in the field.
Sharing both stud and trainers is Audience, son of Iffraaj, who remains in contention as a Group Three winner who is facing his first run over a mile.
The popular Big Rock will look to renew his rivalry with Inspiral, having been beaten by the mare in last year’s Prix Jacques le Marois. Winner of the QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, this will be his first run for new trainer Maurizio Guarnieri who is seeking a debut success at Newbury.
Winning on both his starts this season, Charyn is stepping up to Group One level for the first time. The four-year-old drew attention with the manner in which he won at Sandown in a Group Two which also featured Poker Face, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford who will be hoping for a change in fortunes on Saturday.
Flight Plan and Royal Scotsman have both been put forward for the race, with the former ending last season as a Group Two winner and will hope for further progress.
The runner up from the 2022 edition of the Lockinge, Real World, will hope to go one better this year as he returns to seek Godolphin’s tenth victory in this race.
Other entries put forward following the scratching stage include Dear My Friend, Hi Royal and Witch Hunter, the latter trained by Richard Hannon.
When asked for comment, Clerk of the Course George Hill said that “If all the possible entries declare, we could have a very strong renewal on Saturday.
“It would be thrilling to see a re-match of the Prix Jacques le Marois between Inspiral and Big Rock, both of whom would be having their first run here at Newbury.
“There are a number of interesting contenders who have shown strong Group Two form who would be stepping up to Group One company for the first time.
“The going is currently officially good however rain is forecast, and we expect to have approximately 12-20mm ahead of the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes on Saturday.”
Tickets for the Al Shaqab Lockinge with Ladies Day at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday 18th May are available at https://newburyracecourse.co.uk
