St Leger victory kicks off massive week for Classic crop

A potentially huge week for Godolphin’s three-year-olds enjoyed the perfect start on Monday, with Alegron cruising to victory in the Listed VRC St Leger in Australia.

The emerging stayer backed up a good third in the G1 Australian Derby earlier this month with an easy success on Anzac Day, setting up a tilt at the South Australian Derby in mid-May before a potential crack at the Melbourne Cup later in the year.

Godolphin’s squad for the Derby at Epsom Downs is starting to take shape as well, with Nahanni booking his spot for the first Saturday in June with a hard-fought success in the Listed Blue Riband Trial on Wednesday.

Goldspur acquitted himself well with a close third in Friday’s G3 Classic Trial at Sandown Park – a race in which Adayar and Yibir were both placed 12 months ago – and the Dubawi colt looks set to take in another upcoming Derby trial.

National Dance also flew the flag for the Classic generation with a decisive Listed victory at Toulouse, while four-year-olds Botanik and Lemon Pop recorded impressive wins in France and Japan respectively.

Newmarket takes centre stage this weekend for the return of the three-day Guineas meeting, with US Champion and Dubai Sheema Classic second Yibir among the entries for Friday’s G2 Jockey Club Stakes.

Native Trail looks to hold excellent claims of providing Godolphin with a fourth victory in the G1 2,000 Guineas following an exciting return to action in the G3 Craven Stakes earlier this month. The Champion juvenile’s biggest rival could be stable-mate Coroebus, who ended his two-year-old campaign with an exhilarating performance on the Rowley Mile in the G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes.

Wild Beauty remains in the frame for Sunday’s G1 1,000 Guineas after her recent G3 success at Newbury, with fellow three-year-olds Nations Pride, Noble Truth and With The Moonlight also set to run over the three days.