Master Of The Seas & La Barrosa back at Newmarket for G3 Craven Stakes

Three-year-old colts Master Of The Seas (pictured) and La Barrosa bid for more Group-race success at Newmarket in the mile G3 Craven Stakes, highlight of the final day of the Craven meeting, on Thursday, 15 April.

Both horses posted significant wins at the course during notable juvenile campaigns, with Master Of The Seas (William Buick) striking on debut on the Rowley Mile before an easy win on the July Course in the G2 Superlative Stakes.

The son of Dubawi went on to finish fourth in the G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh, Ireland, and stayed on strongly to chase home Naval Crown in the mile Listed Meydan Classic on turf at Meydan, UAE, in February.

La Barrosa (James Doyle) also made a winning introduction, impressively scoring at Ascot in September, before overcoming trouble in running for a length success in the G3 Tattersalls Stakes on the Rowley Mile later the same month.

He stepped up to G1 level for his final two-year-old outing in the Criterium International over a mile at Saint-Cloud, France, in October, when he faded in the closing stages to come home fifth in testing conditions.

Charlie Appleby, who trains the duo, said: “Master Of The Seas holds some great two-year-old form and has definitely come forward for his run at Meydan, both physically and mentally. We are going to run him in a hood this time as he has been a bit free in his last two starts.

“La Barrosa did little wrong as a juvenile and you can put a line through his run on bottomless ground at Saint-Cloud, when he travelled but couldn’t pick up at all. He won a G3 over the course in September and his preparation has gone well. I am looking forward to seeing how they both get on.”