Barney Roy bursts into 2000 Guineas contention

Barney Roy wins the Greenham Stakes under James Doyle at Newbury.

Newbury’s cards on Friday and Saturday yielded plenty of QIPCO British Champions Series clues for the months ahead. Here are five to consider.

BARNEY ROY
Richard Hannon has another leading QIPCO 2000 Guineas contender on his hands to judge by his two-length win over Godolphin’s other runner, Dream Castle, in the JLT Greenham Stakes.

Hannon, who won the Guineas in 2014 with Night Of Thunder in his first season with a licence after taking over from his father, Richard senior, said: “He has relaxed enormously, as he was a little bit keen, and in fairness that is more or less down to Sean Levey.

“I was a bit worried coming back from a mile to seven and you can see why, as he just took his time getting going. I thought he was in trouble four down then he went ‘whoosh’. I’ve liked him for a long time, though.

“He will get a trip as well now that he is more relaxed. I did say in the summer he might get a Derby trip, whether he gets that far I don’t know.”

Bin Suroor said of Dream Castle: “I think he was too keen in the race. He is a horse that needs to settle.”

SHUTTER SPEED and GRACIOUS DIANA
John Gosden’s three-year-olds are firing on all cylinders and Shutter Speed is disputing favouritism in some lists for the Investec Oaks after her successful return in the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup EBF Stallions Conditions Stakes.

The daughter of Dansili, flagged up by us in our Dark Horses series in January, looked a class above her rivals when only needing to be pushed out by Frankie Dettori to take the mile-and-a-quarter contest by two and a half lengths from Raheen House.

Soon after, Gracious Diana was an emphatic winner of the Bathwick Tyres Maiden Fillies’ Stakes to also enter the Oaks picture.

Gosden said: “These fillies had only raced once in their lives and are both rated 84, they need the experience and that is why I brought them here.”

The Musidora Stakes at York is a possible next race for Shutter Speed.

MUNTAHAA
The John Gosden-trained colt, fourth in the St Leger last season, got back to winning ways in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes in determined style.

In a tight finish, he edged out Chemical Charge, with Second Step, Crimean Tatar and the favourite, Midterm, not far behind. All five horses could be candidates for honours in this year’s Series.

“He is a character, but I like the way he stuck his neck out at the end,” Gosden said. “I think quite frankly we should be looking at the Betway Yorkshire Cup with him and that is where he will go next.”

Ralph Beckett said of the runner-up: “Oisin (Murphy) felt he got there too soon. He will stay at this trip, as this is the right trip for him.”

Second Step was having his first start for Roger Charlton, who said: “We will sit and think first before we decide what to do next. I was really pleased with the way he travelled and he looked a happy horse. ”

DABYAH
Dabyah made nearly all the running to win the Dubai Duty Free Stakes, with Frankie Dettori not needing to resort to the whip.

She is now set to go for the French 1000 Guineas, with Nell Gwyn winner Daban (same owner/trainer) heading for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 7.

“We will see what the owner thinks, but the jockey would like to run Daban at Newmarket and Dabyah in France,” said John Gosden, the winning trainer. “If they are in good order that is the jockey’s wish. She has run well in France and they get more rain there, so there is likely to be a bit more give.”