By Daithi Harvey
Newbury Racecourse has unveiled an initial entry of 28 horses for it's early season highlight the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. to be run May 20. The mile contest, worth £350,000, features an array of top names including last year's 'Cartier Horse Of The Year' Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is already a triple Group 1 winner over the distance. Also included are a number of established top level older horses such as Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) and Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), among some others who have yet to scale such heights but this could be their season to do so. Belonging to this group is the Cheveley Park Stud owned pair of 4-year-olds Zonderland (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The Clive Cox trained Zonderland wasn't disgraced when sixth to Galileo Gold in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas and while again found out at the top level in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly he rounded out the season in good style with a win in the G3 Sovereign S. at Salisbury before finishing second to Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in the G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood. “I think Zonderland will probably go for a listed race before we consider the Lockinge, said Cheveley Park Stud managing director Chris Richardson. “He ran so well in the Celebration Mile last year that we felt he warranted an entry.”
Persuasive progressed for John Gosden last year from winning a handicap at Goodwood in May off a mark of 80 to winning the Listed Sandringam H. at Royal Ascot to running second to Alice Springs in the G1 Coolmore Stud Fastnet Rock Matron S. at Leopardstown, eventually finishing up the season rated 112. “Persuasive looks fantastic and has strengthened well. John Gosden is very happy with her. Both look very nice prospects going forward,” Richardson added.
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