O’Brien has high hopes of success with Tomahawk
The champion trainer saddled the first three home in last year’s renewal and once again holds a strong hand in Saturday’s Group One contest.
A total of 17 juveniles remain in the seven-furlong event with O’Brien being responsible for four of them.
Tomahawk, a good second to Oasis Dream in the Middle Park Stakes could be the pick, with Marino Marini, Ontario and Great Pyramid, a full-brother to last year’s winner Rock Of Gibraltar, completing the Ballydoyle team.
Referring to Tomahawk, O’Brien said: ‘‘He won his maiden very well then we took him to Ascot and we thought he was a banker but he was very green and he got caught on the line on the fast ground.
‘‘He was very sick after that but we were delighted with him in the Middle Park and we’ve always thought he was a very good horse.’’
Connections of Trade Fair and Burning Sun are ‘‘very hopeful’’ of a big-race double.
Sagitta 2000 Guineas favourite Trade Fair represents Khalid Abdullah in the Dewhurst Stakes while the leading owner-breeder runs Burning Sun in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.
Trade Fair is William Hill’s 8-1 market leader for the Newmarket Classic after spread-eagling a field of maidens at Newbury last month.
But Beckett is not impressed with the colt’s odds and said: ‘‘He’s got Group One winners behind him in the betting and he’s won a maiden at Newbury.’’
The prize fund was boosted to £265,000 by the supplementary entries on Saturday of Dublin, Rimrod and Saturn at £15,000 each.
Governor Brown and The Queen’s Desert Star, first and third in a York maiden last month, renew rivalry.
Both youngsters have scored impressive victories at Newmarket since they met on the Knavesmire.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Desert Star was a five-length winner of a maiden. Kieren Fallon takes the ride with Pat Eddery riding Stoute’s other runner Desert Lord.
John Gosden will also have two runners with Jimmy Fortune riding Marching Band and Richard Hills on Al Jadeed.
Godolphin will mount a three-pronged attack on the Champion Stakes as the Dubai operation bids to win the Group One contest for the first time.
Frankie Dettori has opted to ride Noverre in the 10-furlong highlight of Champions’ Day with Jamie Spencer renewing his association with Moon Ballad, whom he partnered to an impressive victory in the Group Three Select Stakes at Goodwood last month, while Kevin Darley takes the ride on Equerry.
But the Tote believe Dettori may have got it wrong, quoting Moon Ballad as their 7-2 favourite with Noverre on 4-1. However, Ladbrokes go 3-1 Noverre, 7-2 Burning Sun and 9-2 Moon Ballad.
Henry Cecil, who has won this prestigious contest in the past with Indian Skimmer in 1988 and with Bosra Sham eight years later, trains Burning Sun and the master of Warren Place will be bidding to land his first success of the season at the highest level.
Sholokhov, who has acted mainly as pacemaker for Hawk Wing this season, is O’Brien’s only challenger.
Last year’s fifth Carnival Dancer represents Sir Michael Stoute, who won the Champion Stakes with Pilsudski in 1997 and Kalanisi in 2000.
Emirates Airline Champion Stakes betting: Tote: 7-2 Moon Ballad, 4-1 Noverre, 11-2 Burning Sun, 8-1 Indian Creek, Storming Home, 10-1 Rakti, 12-1 Equerry, Kaieteur, 14-1 Carnival Dancer, Sholokhov, 16-1 Chancellor, 25-1 Imperial Dancer.
Ladbrokes: 3-1 Noverre, 7-2 Burning Sun, 9-2 Moon Ballad, 8-1 Storming Home, 10-1 Equerry, Kaieteur, Rakti, 12-1 Indian Creek, Sholokhov, 16-1 Chancellor, Imperial Dancer, 20-1 Carnival Dancer.
