Apr 2023
Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes Entries Point To A Thrilling Renewal Headed By Australian Contender Anamoe
AL SHAQAB LOCKINGE STAKES ENTRIES POINT TO A THRILLING RENEWAL HEADED BY AUSTRALIAN CONTENDER ANAMOE
Nine-time Australian Group 1 winner, Anamoe, heads the entries in the £350,000 Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, run at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday, May 20. A total of 30 horses have been entered in the first older horse Group 1 of the British Flat Turf season which is the second of the QIPCO British Champions Series mile races. For the first time in 2023, the Al Shaqab Lockinge will feature as part of the World Pool fixture list.
The James Cummings-trained Anamoe, the winner of eleven stakes races, could add an international flavour to the 2023 renewal of the race. Anamoe is joined by fellow Godolphin owned Modern Games, the winner of the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile and Real World (Saeed bin Suroor) who was runner up to Baaeed in the race last year. Charlie Appleby’s only other entry is Valiant Prince who returns after claiming two Group 2 victories in Meydan.
John and Thady Gosden, who trained Palace Pier to win the straight mile contest in 2021, have five entered in the race, including Lord North, Grande Dame, Inspiral, Laurel and Nashwa. Lord North returns to English soil following his victory in the Group 1 Dubai Turf.
Others among the 30 quality entries include Lusail (R Hannon) and My Prospero (W Haggas), second and third respectively in the 2022 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Aidan O’Brien, the winner of the race twice before, is solely represented by Order of Australia. Other Irish entries include Classic winner Homeless Songs, winner of the 2022 Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas who finished 7th behind Laurel (2nd) and Grande Dame (3rd) in the Royal Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes. Light Infantry (D Simcock) returns from a stint down under after finishing a neck second to Inspiral in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois.
There are two entries from France, the winner and runner up of Saturday’s (April, 1) G3 Prix Edmond Blanc, Tribalist (A Fabre) and The Revenant (F-H Graffard).
Newbury’s mile showpiece is once again sponsored by Al Shaqab who have Lusail entered in the race. Ali Begley, Racing Manager for Al Shaqab Racing, said: “Lusail’s early season target is The Al Shaqab Lockinge and Sheikh Joaan would be delighted to have a runner in the race again having won it with Olympic Glory in 2014.”
Richard Hannon, trainer of Lusail commented on the four-your-old: “I’ve been very happy with Lusail since he came back from Saudi Arabia. He ran a good race out there but he clearly wants a mile now and the Lockinge, sponsored by Al Shaqab, makes it the ideal race to be his main target for the year. He may have a prep run before then but he is a horse that keeps himself pretty fit and Newbury is an ideal, uncomplicated track for him and hopefully he will make Al Shaqab proud and run a big race. The Al Shaqab Lockinge is always a race we like to target, the prize money is extremely good, and we are happy to go there if we have one good enough which he is. Having finished second in the Group 1 St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2022, he has proved himself several times.”
Keith Ottesen, Clerk of the Course at Newbury Racecourse, said: “It is very exciting and encouraging to see such a strong list of entries for the first older horse Group 1 race of the season. We are pleased to see some of last year’s contenders returning for another tilt after chasing home the mighty Baaeed, including runner up Real World and third placed Chindit. It’s also great to see the Godolphin owned Anamoe, Australia’s best horse at a mile, in there, as well as last season’s Breeders Cup Mile winner Modern Games. Add to them some of last year’s best three-year-old fillies in Nashwa, Inspiral, Laurel, Grande Dame and Homeless Songs and we are very much looking forward to what could be a very high quality and hugely competitive renewal of the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes.”
The first scratching stage is by noon on Tuesday 2nd May with final confirmation stage by noon on Monday 15th May.
Tickets for the Al Shaqab Lockinge at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday 20th May are currently available at the discounted Early Bird rate – but only until Saturday 22nd April – with a number of hospitality experiences also available.