Keredari confirmed for 2000 Guineas
This weekend he will saddle Keredari in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas, but Oxx is under no illusions as to the task facing the colt.
Keredari looked well above average when winning a Roscommon maiden last September, but he met with defeat behind Jim Bolger’s Free Judgement a month later at Leopardstown in the Killavullan Stakes.
He got his career back on track with a stylish display in the Lougbrown Stakes, after which Oxx immediately nominated a crack at the Classic.
While he has plenty of scope for improvement, the Currabeg handler admits Keredari would need to step up an anything he has shown previously to trouble the big guns.
“Keredari is an intended runner at this stage,” said Oxx.
“He’s a nice horse but strictly on the ratings he has a fair bit to find.”
nMarcus Tregoning hopes to have Mawatheeq in top form to have a crack at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July.
Although the five-year-old is coming along nicely at home, Tregoning feels last season’s Champion Stakes runner-up might not be ready in time to return to action at Royal Ascot.
“He’s in great form and it’s just possible Royal Ascot might come a bit too quick for him, but you can expect to see him later on in the summer,” said the Lambourn trainer.
“The race I’ve got in mind for him is the King George.
“I think that would be a very suitable race to run him in.”
nMeezaan is to be aimed at Royal Ascot’s Jersey Stakes following his creditable effort in the French 2000 Guineas.
The John Gosden-trained colt is to revert to seven furlongs after fading into fifth place in the closing stages at Longchamp on Sunday.
“He ran well. I thought for a minute he was going to come through and win it, but his stamina just gave out,” said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
