We have just opened our ante-post betting market, for the G1 Lockinge Stakes. This race takes place at Newbury, on Saturday 20th May. Let’s take a look at the horses considered most-likely to win this famous encounter…
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Age: 4 (Foaled March 24th, 2013)
Sex: Bay Colt
Breeding: Iffraaj – Mujarah (IRE) (Marju (IRE))
Trainer: R A Fahey
Owner: Godolphin
Won the Jersey Stakes, beating Thikriyaat by over 2 lengths and already has a G1 race under his belt – Ribchester was victorious in the Jacques Le Marois, last August. Richard Fahey’s inmate was a close 3rd, in the Dubai Turf, so must be respected.
Galileo Gold
Age: 4 (Foaled January 31st, 2013)
Sex: Chestnut Colt
Breeding: Paco Boy (IRE) – Galicuix (Galileo (IRE))
Trainer: H Palmer
Owner: Al Shaqab Racing
Last season’s 2,000 Guineas Champion also won the St James’s Palace Stakes, at Royal Ascot. Returned to Berkshire for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, in October, but pulled too hard to have a realistic chance. Still a major player.
Minding (IRE)
Age: 4 (Foaled February 10th, 2013)
Sex: Bay Filly
Breeding: Galileo (IRE) – Lillie Langtry (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Trainer: A P O’Brien
Owner: Mr D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, Mr M Tabor
The filly was the outstanding 3-year-old of 2016, winning the 1,000 Guineas, the Oaks, the Nassau Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. It will be interesting to see how she returns from the Winter break, as Aidan O’Brien certainly worked her hard last season.
Others worthy of consideration are Alice Springs, Lightning Spear, Mutakayyef, Persuasive and Charlie Hills’ Dutch Connection.
Race History
The race is named after a local civil parish that has since been disbanded. The fixture was first held in the late-1950s and was initially open to runners aged 3 years or more. Nowadays, 3-year-olds can no longer run and all of the horses must be at least 4 years of age.
In 1971, the fixture was given G2 status. It fell out of favour in the early 1980s and was relegated to G3. Unusually, the event was then promoted back to G2 after just a couple of years. G1 status was awarded in 1995, the same year that 3-year-olds were no longer allowed to participate.
The race distance is one mile and all horses carry 9 stones exactly, although there is a 3lb allowance for fillies and mares. The purse is £350,000 and the fixture is run over the straight track at Newbury.
Pall Mall
The inaugural race-winner was a horse named Pall Mall. Owned and bred by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, this Irish chestnut stallion was trained by Cecil Boyd-Rochfort. He was out of a dam named Malapert and was sired by Palestine, a winner of the Coventry Stakes (1949), the Richmond Stakes (1949), the Gimcrack Stakes (1949), the Champagne Stakes (1949), the 2000 Guineas (1950). the St. James’s Palace Stakes (1950) and the Sussex Stakes (1950). Palestine was named Champion Irish Sire of 2-Year-Olds in 1964.
Pall Mall was given a Timeform rating of 132 and also won the New Stakes (1957), the Thirsk Classic Trial (1958) and the 2000 Guineas (1958). He sired a horse called Reform, a winner of the Granville Stakes (1966), the Rous Memorial Stakes (1966), the Clarence House Stakes (1966), the St James’s Stakes (1967), the St James’s Palace Stakes (1967), the Sussex Stakes (1967), the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1967) and the Champion Stakes (1967).
Recent Champions
Horses that have won this race in recent years include Belardo, Night Of Thunder, Olympic Glory, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Farhh in 2013 and the peerless Frankel in 2012.
The 2011 champion was a horse named Canford Cliffs. This Irish bay stallion was trained by Richard Hannon Sr. and was ridden by Richard Hughes. He was an exceptional thoroughbred and also won the Coventry Stakes (2009), the Irish 2,000 Guineas (2010), the St. James’s, the Palace Stakes (2010), the Sussex Stakes (2010) and the Queen Anne Stakes (2011). In 2010, Canford Cliffs was rate as joint sixth best horse in the world and was given a Timeform rating of 127.
The Lockinge Stakes is always an exciting race, so make sure that you get your bets on early with RaceBets!
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