You are here

Global Weekly Review - 16.05.16

J A McGrath
The Lockinge Stakes retains its capacity to create great stallions, and one might now contemplate such a career for the latest winner, Belardo, when his racing days after over.

Eighteen years after Cape Cross lasted to beat Poteen and Centre Stalls in the 1998 edition of Newbury's G1 Lockinge Stakes, the race retains its capacity to create stallions, and one might now contemplate such a career for the latest winner, Belardo, when his racing days after over.

Godolphin-owned Belardo, the son of Shamardal stallion Lope De Vega, was rewarding the patience of his owners and trainer with Saturday's significant win. It had been a long wait for everything to fall into place.

For most of the colt's career, trainer Roger Varian has stressed the need for ground with plenty of 'give' underfoot for him to be seen at his best. Newbury provided a surface perfect for meeting those requirements, and when produced late on the far side of the pack, Belardo duly obliged.

Godolphin-owned Cape Cross was basically dismissed by the 'experts' in his year - they believed he was there to ensure a good gallop - but he went on to prove a very good racehorse, winning five of his 19 starts, and an outstanding Darley stallion.

To be able to produce G1 Derby winners of the calibre of Sea The Stars and Golden Horn, plus a brilliant Oaks winner in Ouija Board, ensures him a place in the elite bracket as a sire.

Belardo was already a G1 winner, having won the Dewhurst Stakes at two, but the Lockinge victory consolidates his reputation and it would be no surprise to see him add another G1 if ground permits.

The G1 QEII on Champions Day at Ascot in October is usually run on soft ground, so that appears a feasible objective.

"We always kept faith in Belardo," Varian assured reporters after the race. The G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot beckons - as long as the going is not too quick.

Lockinge Day at Newbury was a brilliant one for Godolphin, for not only did Belardo excel, the Richard Hannon-trained Log Out Island also blitzed his rivals in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes, over six furlongs.

It is hard to imagine that the fitting of a hood could have made such a difference, but it did. James Doyle let the Dark Angel colt bowl along in front, and he led by 10 lengths at half-way.

That lead diminished in the closing stages, but by then, he had broken the spirit of the chasing pack, and he sailed home for an impressive win.

His next port of call is Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup, over six furlongs.

The Godolphin squad for Royal Ascot is taking shape nicely, and Saturday's Newbury card is certain to be a constant point of reference in the build-up to British Flat racing's most important five days.

Global Weekly Review