Masar could supply jockey William Buick with a second massive worldwide prize in less than a week, as the Charlie Appleby-trained Godolphin-owned colt is a major fancy to win Saturday’s (5 May) G1 2,000 Guineas over the straight 1600m at Newmarket.
Whilst it was a late call-up for Buick to get the Pakistan Star ride prior to that stunning victory in last Sunday’s (29 April) G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin, the jockey has had a lengthy association with Masar.
And their front-running nine-length demolition of opposition in last month’s G3 Craven Stakes over the course and distance of this first British Classic race of 2018 was the most memorable performance seen in the UK so far this season.
Buick recalls that 19 April victory: “What was so impressive was the way he quickened twice, before the Dip and then again up the hill. He was very raw last year but has developed into a lovely racehorse now.”
That observation also says plenty about the severe undulations of the famous Rowley Mile course, and the fact that Masar has already shown that it suits him nicely is certainly a major plus.
Of course trainer Aidan O’Brien hasn’t won this race eight times – not to mention his world record tally of 28 Group or Grade 1 wins in 2017 – without masterly strategy and, with at least two exceptional colts in his team, Masar is unlikely to be presented with an easy time upfront.
O’Brien’s Gustav Klimt is the anticipated favourite. He had looked a star in the making when overcoming trouble to win Newmarket’s G2 Superlative Stakes (1400m) on fast ground last July but went missing until surging from the back to win a 1400m Listed race on heavy ground at Leopardstown last month.
O’Brien says: “We needed to get that run into him after the absence and Ryan (Moore) was very impressed with the way he accelerated on the heavy ground because he’s really a good ground horse.”
With the great jockey in the United States to partner O’Brien’s Mendelssohn in the Kentucky Derby, the trainer is – as he often does – leaving riding plans to the last minute. However, he has indicated that Seamie Heffernan is most likely to partner Gustav Klimt with his son Donnacha aboard Saxon Warrior.
The latter is the colt who famously survived a hefty thump late on but still kept his unbeaten record intact in Doncaster’s G1 Racing Post Trophy over a mile last October.
Unlike Gustav Klimt, Saxon Warrior hasn’t yet competed this year but he has received some mighty positive comments from O’Brien, who says: “I have rarely seen a horse develop so dramatically from two to three as much as Saxon Warrior. He’s a monster now.”
Saxon Warrior’s three two-year-old wins were all over this distance and some pundits reckon that this son of Deep Impact is going to need further than 1600m to thrive this year. However his band of fans simply consider him the potential superstar in this field.
Frankie Dettori has been booked for James Garfield, winner of last month’s G3 Greenham Stakes (1400m) at Newbury. He’ll have supporters, though plenty of observers suggest that Andrea Atzeni’s mount Expert Eye – a close second that day – badly needed that reappearance run and will prove the more potent when push comes to shove on Saturday.
Earlier on the six-race Newmarket simulcast programme, Atzeni partners Defoe – a hugely impressive winner at Newbury last time out – in the G2 Jockey Club Stakes over 2400m. This powerful colt will be a warm favourite.
Meanwhile, the speedsters are in action in the G3 Palace House Stakes over 1000m, in which Havana Grey is likely to be a popular choice to become the first three-year-old Palace House winner since 2009.
The ground at Newmarket is currently on the soft side of good, but with drying conditions anticipated it could be good ground by Saturday, according to Clerk of the Course Michael Prosser.
