'Chrome', Karakontie Among Lockinge Nominees

Thirty-six entries, among them U.S. Horse of the Year California Chrome and 2014 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) victor Karakontie, have been received for the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (Eng-I) May 16 at Newbury.

 

The one-mile turf contest is the early season highlight for older horses and boasts a much-improved prize fund of £350,000 (US$518,966), up 64% from last year's £214,000 purse.

 

Most recently second to Prince Bishop in the Dubai World Cup (gr. I) March 28, California Chrome won the last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) impressively, although he was beaten in his bid for the U.S. Triple Crown when going down by two lengths to Tonalist in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) at 1 1/2 miles. He subsequently finished third, beaten a nose and a neck, in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.

 

California Chrome won on his only appearance on turf, capturing the grade I Hollywood Derby over 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar in November and could make his European debut in the Lockinge before heading to Royal Ascot for the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Eng-I) in June. He is being overseen in Newmarket by trainer Rae Guest.

 

Todd Pletcher-trained Mshawish also is entered. Successful in 1 1/8-mile Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) Feb. 7, he was most recently third in the Dubai Turf (UAE-I) over the same distance at Meydan March 28.

 

The Lockinge is the likely starting point for last year's Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner Karakontie. The 4-year-old, who also enjoyed classic success in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Fr-I, French Two Thousand Guineas) for trainer Jonathan Pease, is one of five French-trained contenders for the Newbury race at a straight mile.

 

Alan Cooper, racing manager to Karakontie's owner the Niarchos Family, said: "Karakontie has wintered well and the Lockinge Stakes is the race we are looking at.

 

"We will obviously have to see nearer the time, but we feel he is a horse who needs good ground, so he may well make his reappearance at Newbury. We have also entered a pacemaker, Maximum Velocity.

 

"Karakontie won very well at the Breeders' Cup and there was no fluke about his performance in America. After he won the French 2,000 Guineas, we got him ready for the Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-I, French Derby), but he did not appreciate the extra distance and it took him a long time to get over it.

 

"He was not really sparking and it was not until the second half of September that he really began to flourish again. He got massacred in the Foret, but kept improving and in California he was in top form.

 

"The objective after the Lockinge Stakes will be the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot. Then you have got races like the Sussex Stakes (Eng-I) and the Prix Jacques les Marois (Fr-I)—essentially, he will be kept to the top mile races."

 

The French-trained contenders for the Lockinge are completed by group I winner Ectot (trained by Elie Lellouche); last season's French Guineas runner-up Prestige Vendome (Nicholas Clement), and high-class filly Bawina (Carlos Laffon-Parias).

 

Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien gained victory in the Lockinge with the impressive Hawk Wing in 2003 and has entered last season's Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Eng-I) runner-up Due Diligence, Cougar Mountain, and Oklahoma City.

 

Britain's champion trainer Richard Hannon Jr. sent out Olympic Glory to claim the Lockinge last year, in his first season with a training license, and is likely to run last year's QIPCO 2,000 Guineas (Eng-I) victor Night of Thunder as well Toormore, who was Europe's champion 2-year-old of 2013.

 

Other high-profile entries include grade or group I winners Integral (Sir Michael Stoute), Rizeena (Clive Brittain), and Trade Storm (David Simcock).

 

Harry Herbert, racing adviser to Al Shaqab Racing, commented: "The Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes is the focal point of a hugely valuable and important international race day.

 

"I am delighted that the strength of this year's entries from around the world provides such an outstanding vote of confidence in the race."