Newmarket contingent makes waves at Keeneland

Master Of The Seas continued where he left off in 2023 as he posted back-to-back G1 wins in North America with an impressive display in the Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland on Friday.  

Last season’s Breeders’ Cup Mile scorer, who also annexed the G1 Woodbine Mile in Canada last season, showed his customary turn of foot to come home two and a quarter lengths clear of stable-companion Naval Power.  

Both horses look set to remain in the United States, with targets at Churchill Downs, Aqueduct and Saratoga among several options.  

English Rose also has more US targets in her sights after coming home second in Saturday’s G1 Jenny Wiley Stakes, with Saratoga on her agenda, while Bold Act and Silver Knott will be looking to strike this weekend in the G2 Elkhorn Stakes.  

More runners from Newmarket are due to travel over in the coming weeks, with three-time G1 winner Nations Pride pencilled in for the G2 Man o’War Stakes and Meydan victor Legend Of Time heading for the G2 American Turf on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

Encino could have the Kentucky Derby itself on his radar following a tenacious win in the G3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday. The Brad Cox-trained colt is certainly bred for the race, being by the 2016 winner Nyquist and out of a half-sister to the 2007 victor Street Sense.  

Romantic Style has Classic ambitions of her own and the Night Of Thunder filly is being aimed towards the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches after taking the G3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville on Tuesday.  

This week’s Craven Meeting could also provide some important Classic clues, with Dance Sequence and Native Approach hoping to secure their places in the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas respectively.  

In Australia, Zardozi continued her excellent autumn when filling the runner-up spot in the G1 Australian Oaks at Randwick. Cascadian finished fourth behind runaway winner Pride Of Jenni in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, while Broadsiding earned himself a tilt at the G1 Champagne Stakes with an easy win in the Listed Fernhill Mile.