There is a distinct feel of “while the cat's away” about Thursday's G3 Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven S. at Newmarket, with Air Force Blue (War Front) going through the motions in private in Co. Tipperary. In Foundation (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), however, the renowned Guineas trial at least has a significant player to boast of. Successful on this type of surface in the Listed Ascendant S. at Haydock and G2 Royal Lodge S. here in September, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's chestnut was very unlucky not to play more of a hand in the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster the following month after being held up behind. “We're looking forward to running him and he seems very well,” trainer John Gosden said. “He's built up through the winter and has been working nicely, but it's still early days and he hasn't been pushed too hard so far. I've said for a while I think he will possibly be at his best over a mile and a quarter, but let's wait and see.”
The syndicate's manager Harry Herbert added, “He's very well and hopefully it will give us a good steer as to what direction we're heading with him. He didn't have a race in the Racing Post Trophy. It turned into a bit of a farce and it was agony to watch. It was just an exercise gallop for him. This should give us a better handle on him and we'll find out whether he's a Guineas horse, or a French Guineas horse or whether we should be going down the Derby route.”
Another with top-level form is the G1 Criterium International runner-up Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic), who was beaten a head by Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in that Saint-Cloud highlight in November and on strict formlines should be able to give Foundation a race. Godolphin are represented by the impressive mile Doncaster maiden scorer Very Talented (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), and he remains an intriguing prospect. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor is looking forward to testing his mettle. “He is doing very well and is working well. I'm very happy with him,” he said. “In his last piece of work he went very nicely and he is improving all the time.”
Aidan O'Brien provides both a sighter for Air Force Blue and also a realistic contender in his own right in the well-regarded Shogun (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), while the Hannon stable– which has been responsible for eight winners and the last four between Richard Sr and Jr–puts forward a duo in Tony Curtis (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) and Steel of Madrid (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).
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