Dream Scenario

Frankel already has one live G1 2000 Guineas contender in Thursday's G3 Craven S. winner Eminent (Ire), and could have another if Dream Castle (GB) can deal with his rivals in Saturday's G3 JLT Greenham S. at Newbury. Impressive when making his winning debut on the same Doncaster card that fellow Godolphin representative and 'TDN Rising Star' Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) also lit up on Apr. 2, the bay is helped by the fact that this renewal lacks its customary strength in depth. “He has shown plenty of speed and he will be suited by the seven furlongs at Newbury. He worked really well a few days ago,” trainer Saeed bin Suroor said. “It is easy to win a maiden and it is only when we step them up that we find out the truth about them. We liked him last year, but he was a little bit weak and backward and that is why we didn't touch him. We just gave him time and I think we have done the right thing by looking after him.”

Also in the Godolphin livery is the Richard Hannon-trained Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}), who slammed the subsequent winner Fujaira Bridge (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in a mile maiden on his only start at Haydock in September. “I am very pleased with Barney Roy. He heads to the Greenham, but he has not got loads of experience and that's my only worry with him,” Hannon commented. “He is okay working up the gallops, but when he works on the grass he does look around a bit. We have done plenty with him at home, he just needs the education on the track.”

Sir Michael Stoute puts forward Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's G3 Autumn S. runner-up Zainhom (Street Cry {Ire}), while Aidan O'Brien sends across the Listed Patton S. winner War Secretary (War Front), but away from the big stables there is an unexposed colt who could be anything in Make Time (Ire) (Makfi {GB}). A five-length winner of a seven-furlong maiden on soft ground at Salisbury in September, he races for the 17-strong Gail Brown Racing syndicate and trainer David Menuisier. “Make Time won extremely well at Salisbury, but it is difficult to assess the form,” Brown said. “He is very athletic and his work at home is encouraging–everybody thinks he deserves his chance in a Classic trial. Optimism is very important in racing but we have a mountain to climb as it is very tough at this level, taking on horses owned by Coolmore and Godolphin.”