Cox happy to go straight to Guineas
Xtension, one of 91 entries revealed for the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas, may be sent for the first Classic of the Flat season on May 1 without a prep-run by trainer Clive Cox.
One of the best of last season’s juveniles, Xtension was a very close third to Beethoven in the Dewhurst, won the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood and chased home Canford Cliffs in the Coventry at Royal Ascot.
Cox said: “Xtension has wintered very well and I am pleased to say that we have had a good start with his training.
“He would not get a penalty in the Greenham (at Newbury on April 17), so that is an option before Newmarket but, ground dependent, we would not be at all worried about running him in the Guineas first time up.
“I am very confident that, although he is very lightly raced, he is obviously more experienced than when he ran in the Dewhurst off the back of a break.
“I think, in this day and age, I would be quite happy taking him to the Guineas without a prep.
“The Dewhurst is what it is – a Group One race – and he showed a very high level of performance at that stage of his career. I am quite satisfied and would expect him to have improved and progressed through the winter.”
Aidan O’Brien’s St Nicholas Abbey, the incredibly impressive winner of the Racing Post Trophy and 100-30 favourite with the sponsors, was reassuringly among the entries too.
Other possibles starters for the Ballydoyle team include Beethoven and Dewhurst second and fourth Fencing Master and Steinbeck as well as Cape Blanco, Joshua Tree and Jan Vermeer.
Godolphin has the largest number of entries of any owner with 14 including Breeders’ Cup Juvenile hero Vale Of York, top Irish recruits Chabal and Kingsfort, French Group One winner Passion For Gold and the unbeaten Zeitoper.
Mark Johnston’s Middle Park winner Awzaan, Brian Meehan’s Arcano, the Richard Hannon-trained Canford Cliffs and Sir Michael Stoute trio Workforce, Treble Jig and Markazzi are others of interest.
Charlie McCann, head of public relations for Stan James, said: “We were privileged to be proud sponsors of the race that launched an equine superstar in Sea The Stars last year and, who knows, perhaps there is another racing great among the entries.
“All eyes are likely to be focussed on St Nicholas Abbey after his breathtaking win in the Racing Post Trophy but the unbeaten ’A Team’ of Arcano and Awzaan as well as brilliant Coventry Stakes winner Canford Cliffs ensures a very strong British challenge for the first Classic of the 2010 season.”
