Newbury Saturday

Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (Group 1)

IT was largely one-way traffic in the betting, with Palace Pier sent off at a prohibitive price of 1/2, and it was much the same in the race. Frankie Dettori glanced across at his toiling rivals fully two furlongs out having cruised to the front on John Gosden’s brilliant colt, and although probably there soon enough on reflection, he quickly put the race to bed.

Lady Bowthorpe (William Jarvis/Oisin Murphy) has done nothing but improve over the past year, and she produced another career best to finish best off all for second.

While her length and a half defeat may flatter her to some degree as the winner idled, she still came an impressive five and a half lengths clear of Top Rank (James Tate/P J McDonald), himself seeming to have every chance as the race panned out, and in turn well clear of Group 1 winner Lord Glitters in fourth.

Exaggerated

The pace was overly strong for the conditions, and the distances beaten are therefore inclined to be exaggerated, but the manner in which Palace Pier sauntered to the front was startling, before his lead was whittled down by the runner-up when the race was effectively over.

The winner did not run his race as efficiently as he might have, and will be a red-hot favourite for the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, even remembering what happened to Hawk Wing some years back.

Lord Glitters and Top Rank may appear to have their work cut out to win Ascot’s traditional opener, but they are potential beneficiaries should the overwhelming favourite fail to turn up or run below form, as he did on his only previous course and distance run.

Lady Bowthorpe is set to take on her own sex at Ascot.

Lope Y Fernandez went off a well-backed second favourite, but failed to land a blow; he has a smart turn of foot, which was negated by the conditions here, and is better judged on what he does next time back on a sound surface.

Joint-trainer John Gosden discussed the prospect of his stable star stepping up in trip, although not until after Royal Ascot: “I think he would step-up to a mile a quarter and he relaxes so well. You can put him where you want in a race so to that extent we could step-up, but it’s pretty obvious at this stage to go for the Queen Anne and then think about if we want to change trip.

“I could see the Juddmonte International as a possible target for him as it’s tight between Royal Ascot and the Eclipse.”

William Jarvis was of similar mind regarding the gallant runner-up, who will be a force at this level against her own sex: “We’ve bumped into the best miler in Europe, but we’ve pulled clear of the rest, so it was a very good performance.

“The only thing that surprised me today was her price. She’s very versatile and we’ll probably go Duke of Cambridge and then look at the Falmouth and Nassau. I’m dying to go a mile and a quarter, but there’s no rush.”