ONE has a new jockey and one has a new trainer, which just adds spice to a Group 1 smash-up between stars Inspiral and Big Rock at Newbury today.
Oh yes, the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes is an absolute crackerjack.
And who doesn’t like a right old head-to-head between the best of Britain, Inspiral, and France — Big Rock.
Incidentally, for those of you who like a bit of history, it’s estimated France and England, later Britain, fought 41 wars against each other between the first Anglo-French War in 1109 and the Hundred Days War in 1815.
In total, France won 24 and England/Britain 11 with six being called a tie. That will surprise some. It certainly did me.
Back to the Lockinge.
Both Inspiral, now the mount of Kieran Shoemark but once the regular partner of Frankie Dettori, and Big Rock, formerly brilliantly trained by Christopher Head, but now in the care of Maurizio Guarnieri, make their seasonal debuts.
When they were last seen they were both devastating.
For Inspiral that was at Santa Anita in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, where she tried a mile and a quarter for the first time and flew late to pick up Warm Heart.
The Cheveley Park-owned daughter of Frankel had already bagged Group 1s in a Sun Chariot, Jacques le Marois (twice), Coronation Stakes and Fillies’ Mile.
Meanwhile, Big Rock provided this column with a huge win in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot when trouncing Facteur Cheval by six lengths with a destructive all-the-way-success.
Ground conditions today will probably not be ideal for either of the protagonists.
Big Rock likes it juicy, while Inspiral is best on top of the ground, where her turn of pace is a weapon.
However, more of a worry for Big Rock fans may be a contested lead.
Inspiral has a pacemaker in the mix in Audience, while Hi Royal is often ridden on the speed and is no mug, having finished second to Chaldean in the 2023 2,000 Guineas, although that was not the greatest renewal.
Big Rock might have to deal with pressure if trying to make all.
Added to all that, the Lockinge is not all about Inspiral and Big Rock.
In an expected field of 11, Charyn is back in Group 1 company after impressive victories in the Doncaster Mile and a Group 2 at Sandown.
The Roger Varian-handled inmate wasn’t quite up to the top level when third to Paddington in both the 2023 Sussex Stakes (Inspiral last in ground she hated) and St James’s Palace Stakes.
Now, though, he looks better than ever.
Simon & Ed Crisford saddle the useful Poker Face, who was a fine victor of the 2023 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp, while Paul & Oliver Cole rely on the interesting Royal Scotsman.
The latter was one place behind Hi Royal in the 2,000 Guineas and then flopped in two starts afterwards. He returns with a first time tongue strap.
This is hard for me as I thought Big Rock put up the best Flat performance of last season, but it has to be Inspiral and Shoemark for a super special success.
Away from the Lockinge, the Newbury card has nuggets of gold from start to finish, including in the shape of Desert Hero who goes in the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes.
The St Leger third, owned by The King and Queen, returned this term with a terrific second at Sandown over a shorter trip and this distance of a mile and a half is ideal.
I think he should take all the beating for William Haggas and Tom Marquand.
That pair also have every chance in the Listed Highclere Castle Gin Carnarvon Stakes.
They rely on Relief Rally, and on seasonal return in the Fred Darling at Newbury the big question with last term’s Lowther heroine was whether she had trained on.
Even though only fourth, I think she answered that in the positive over seven furlongs — a trip too far — behind Folgaria with 1,000 Guineas heroine Elmalka a place in front in third.
The drop to 6f today will be ideal and she’s another who should take a lot of stopping.
Indeed, I expect Relief Rally to bolt up for her new owner Zhang Yuesheng, who coughed up 800,000gns at Tattersalls in December having not so long ago spent 5.5million gns on former Group 1 victor Alcohol Free.
Let’s hope the drinks are on Relief Rally today. She’s my Nap.
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