Stormy Antarctic claims Craven in smooth style

Stormy Antarctic enhanced his QIPCO 2000 Guineas claims by winning the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes in emphatic style at Newmarket today.

The Ed Walker-trained colt, sent off at 9-2, quickened up smartly from off the pace to beat Foundation, the 4-6 favourite, by three and a half lengths without George Baker, his jockey, having to get serious.

Stormy Antarctic relished the soft ground and was afterwards quoted between 12-1 and 20-1 for the 2000 Guineas, the opening race of the QIPCO British Champions Series on Saturday fortnight.

Earlier in the day, Peter Chapple-Hyam and Mark Johnston had put the finishing touches to the preparations of their Classic hopefuls.

Chapple-Hyam let Marcel stretch his legs with an older stablemate and afterwards suggested last season’s Racing Post Trophy winner could contest to the 2000 Guineas and the French equivalent a couple of weeks later.”I’ve been very happy with him over the winter but he does need to improve and he needs to find a bit more speed,” the trainer said.

Buratino and Lumiere did their work smoothly, in separate spins, without leaving the bridle. The former is heading for the 2000 Guineas, while the latter is a top-priced 5-1 for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas the following day. Neither have run beyond 6f but Johnston is hopeful that stamina will not be an issue.

“You might question Buratino on pedigree, but his style of racing gives us great confidence as he switches off and then finds a gear,” Johnston said.“Lumiere is bred to get every inch of a mile and is not bred to be a sprinter. The question with her is her temperament, as she can be keen early on but she was much more settled here today.”

If Buratino and Lumiere end up back in the sprinting division, they are likely to be bump into the Charlie Hills-trained Magical Memory, who won the Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes in smooth style. He will run at York next month en route to the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 18.