Champions Set for Classic Trials at Newbury
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Belardo, Europe's 2014 champion 2-year-old, heads a top-class field for the £60,000 AON Greenham Stakes (Eng-III), while champion 2-year-old Tiggy Wiggy tops the fillies' equivalent, both April 18 at Newbury.
The Greenham is seven-furlong contest is a leading trial for the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) and last year's Greenham Stakes saw Kingman beat Night of Thunder impressively. The pair reopposed in the Guineas, with Night of Thunder coming out on top by half a length.
Trained by Roger Varian, Belardo will carry the famous Godolphin silks for the first time, after the stable bought majority interest in the Lope de Vega colt from Prince Faisal last fall. He will face eight rivals, including Richard Hannon-trained pair of Ivawood and Estidhkaar, who were both two-time group II victors last season.
Belardo captured three of five starts in 2015, including the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-I) in October to secure the Cartier Award in his division.
Estidhkaar defeated Belardo (fourth) in the Champagne Stakes (Eng-II) at September at Doncaster. The son of Dark Angel is owned by Sheikh Hamdan, who also will be represented unbeaten Fannaan, a New York Speightstown colt trained by John Gosden, and group II Gimcrack Stakes scorer Muhaarar, trained by Charlie Hills.
Trainer Karl Burke's Toocoolforschool brings good course form to the table, having taken the group II Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes by seven lengths in September, while Aidan O'Brien trainee Dick Whittington is having his first start since annexing the Phoenix Stakes (Ire-I) at the Curragh in August.
Rounding out the field is impressive York maiden winner Flaming Spear, trained by Kevin Ryan, and Doncaster listed winner Code Red, trained by William Muir.
The card also includes the fillies' equivalent of the Greenham, the £60,000 Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Eng-II, registered name Fred Darling), also at seven furlongs, which drew 13 contenders, including Tiggy Wiggy.
The Kodiac filly was successful in six of her eight starts in 2014, culminating with a comfortable victory in the group I Cheveley Park Stakes in September.
Trainer Ralph Beckett is bidding for a third victory in six years and fourth in all with Redstart, a Cockney Rebel filly who won a seven-furlong maiden at Kempton Park in November last time out.
"Redstart had two runs last year and then we put her away," Beckett said. "It is a big step up and will tell us where we are with her, but she has shown up well in her work and we think it is worth a shot."
Also entered for the is maiden winner Jellicle Ball, trained by John Gosden; Russian Punch, who landed a listed prize over the course and distance in October for trainer James Given; while trainer Jonathan Portman's Royal Razalma ended her 2014 campaign with victory in the group III Cornwallis Stakes over five furlongs at Newmarket.