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A Strong Field Of 10 Remain In Contention For The Group 1 BOYLE Sports Lockinge Stakes
Following the latest confirmation stage today, a field of 10 remain in contention for Saturday’s Group 1 BOYLE Sports Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse. The mile contest, run for a total prize fund of £400,000, looks set to be a high class renewal.
Of those who remain in contention for the feature race of Newbury’s Flat season include three Classic winners from last year. Notable Speech, victorious in the 2024 English 2,000 Guineas, could have his first run of the year having not been seen since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Trained by Charlie Appleby, Notable Speech would be seeking a tenth victory in the race for Godolphin. Winners of last season’s Irish 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas both feature amongst entries following the latest scratching stage today. Rosallion, winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes last year could return to the track on Saturday having not been seen since Royal Ascot in June 2024. Rosallion is one of two entries from the Richard Hannon yard along with recent Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes winner, Persica. Winner of the 2024 Irish 1,000 Guineas, Fallen Angel, could make her seasonal reappearance on Saturday having not been seen since a fourth place finish in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera in October. Fallen Angel will be seeking a first Group 1 victory after having changed ownership to Wathnan Racing.
Dancing Gemini and Tamfana, first and second respectively in the Group 2 bet365 Mile, could meet again on Saturday with both holding entries following the latest scratching stage. Trained by Roger Teal, Dancing Gemini is seeking a maiden Group 1 victory having won both his starts this season. Tamfana claimed her first Group 1 success in last year’s Sun Chariot Stakes, trained by David Menuisier for Quantum Leap Racing, she will be seeking to reverse the form from Sandown with Dancing Gemini.
Having not confirmed Friendly Soul, John and Thady Gosden may be solely represented in Saturday’s Group 1 contest by the Juddmonte owned Lead Artist. Well beaten in the bet365 mile, Lead Artist may have his first start in Group 1 company at Newbury. A 10,000 gns purchase, Prague provided connections with a memorable day at Newmarket in September when landing the Group 2 Joel Stakes. Trained by Dylan Cunha, the son of Galileo seeks his first success at the highest level.
The strong field of entries is completed by Checkandchallenge from the William Knight yard, a runner up to Dancing Gemini in the Doncaster Mile Stakes at the beginning of the season, and Storm Star trained by Andrew Balding. The winner of his last three starts, the son of Night of Thunder would be having his first start in Group company if he was to line up on Saturday.
