John and Thady Gosden’s Lead Artist just edged Roger Teal’s Dancing Gemini in the Lockinge at Newbury, although the rematch sees different jockeys in the saddle, with Colin Keane aboard Lead Artist and Kieran Shoemark taking over from Ryan Moore on Dancing Gemini.
Notable Speech (Charlie Appleby) and Rosallion (Richard Hannon) were first and second respectively in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last year, before Rosallion landed the Irish version at the Curragh and then the St James’s Palace Stakes. He had his first run since then when third in the Lockinge, one place in front of Notable Speech.
Teal, who had a valuable winner at York on Saturday, is looking forward to what will be a big day.
He said: “There are only a couple more days to go now, so it’s squeaky bum time, but it’s very exciting. He’s had his last little blow, nothing serious, but just a little healthy exercise. He’s all good.”
Adding further spice to the line-up of 11 are Sardinian Warrior, a stablemate of Lead Artist who found only Sosie too good in the Prix d’Ispahan, American ace Carl Spackler, who is now in new ownership and with Australian trainer Ciaron Maher, Simon and Ed Crisford’s smart performer Quddwah and Aidan O’Brien’s Diego Velazquez.
In the King Charles III Stakes, Australian speedster Asfoora bids to retain her crown in a bumper field of 23, while the Coventry Stakes invariably throws up smart juveniles and this year promises to be no exception, with Postmodern (Hamad Al Jehani) and O’Brien’s unbeaten pair Gstaad and Warsaw notable among the 21 declarations.
