Craven twice as nice for Cecil
Henry Cecil was the toast of Newmarket after saddling a Group-race double with Classic hopeful Twice Over and injury-plagued Phoenix Tower.
The former took his unbeaten run to three when landing the banshahousestables.com Craven Stakes under Ted Durcan and is now 9-2 with sponsors Stan James for the 2000 Guineas on May 3.
A 9-4 chance on the day, the Prince Khalid Abdullah-owned colt was challenged by 11-8 favourite Raven’s Pass inside the distance but pulled out more when required to take the key trial by a short head.
But Cecil said: “I’m not sure whether he is a Guineas horse or not and I want to leave it open.
“He could be more of a Dante or mile-and-a-quarter horse. He did everything right, though, and if you take the second away he won very easily.
“If you asked me if he was to go for the Dante I would say he probably would do.”
John Gosden had warned he had left plenty to work on with Raven’s Pass, who was eased out to 5-1 from 9-2 with Coral while totesport took an opposing view and trimmed him to 4-1 from 5s.
Gosden said: “He certainly gets the mile and I think you will find that is a pretty smart Craven with good, solid form. They were a long way clear and there were some smart types in behind.”
Cecil’s second Group Three success came just 35 minutes later as Tom Queally burst through along the stands rail on Phoenix Tower (8-1) to take the Weatherbys Earl of Sefton Stakes.
Cecil added: “I was very pleased with him as he has been off since last May with a hairline fracture of his pelvis.
“We’ll see how he is, but he stays further and I think a mile and a quarter suits him.”
Last year’s Stewards’ Cup winner Zidane (17-2) hit the back of the net for the first time since that Goodwood victory with his customary late burst in the Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes.
Trainer James Fanshawe said: “Handicaps will be out now and we’ll look to the big sprints at Royal Ascot, possibly taking in the Duke Of York on the way.”
Ryan Moore teamed up with William Haggas to capture the Wyck Hall Stud Maiden Fillies’ Stakes with speedy 3-1 favourite Danehill Destiny, who is 10-1 with Cashmans for the Queen Mary at the Royal meeting.
Haggas said: “We will try and aim in the direction of the Queen Mary and she might run on or two times more before then.”
Jeremy Noseda captured both divisions of the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Wood Ditton Stakes two years ago and sent out the Frankie Dettori-ridden Fanjura to victory in the second division this time around.
Noseda said of the 4-1 winner: “He has a good attitude to life and that was a solid start to his career.”
John Hills’ Tri Nations produced a 40-1 shock division one, while Henry Candy’s Danae (16-1) floored even-money favourite in the Melodramatic Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
