The Group I Newmarket 2000 Guineas is just two weeks away on May 2 and a colt that is closely related to star Aussie import Sir Delius (GB) has put himself in the picture with a stylish victory in the Group III Craven Stakes (1m) at Newmarket overnight.
The John and Thady Gosden trained Frankel colt Oxagon was having his first run this year following a five start juvenile campaign that yielded a maiden win, a Group II placing and two forgivable efforts in G1 races.
Ridden by Oisin Murphy, he set the pace in front and proved too good when forging clear to win by two lengths over Avicenna (Starspangledbanner) and the race favourite Hidden Force (Frankel).
“After Oxagon won at Sandown last season, we had a high opinion of him. He probably let the race get away from him in Doncaster [when second in the Champagne Stakes] and we'll probably see Puerto Rico [the winner that day] back here in two weeks' time [for the 2,000 Guineas],” said John Gosden.
“Oisin feels it's an open Guineas and we should go for it. It would be great to have a runner. Let's enjoy today and hope the horse is in great order. This race today did have a couple of late withdrawals, which didn't help the depth of the field and so we wound up the second favourite. He has run how you hoped he would run.”
Oisin Murphy has ridden Oxagon in all bar one of his six starts to date.
“He's the perfect model, a good mover and has a nice temperament and he was very professional today,” Murphy said.
“He was focused in the cheekpieces and hopefully he can go on now to bigger and better things. He will get a mile and a quarter in time.”
A homebred for his owner Prince Faisal, Oxagon also entries for the French and Irish 2000 Guineas and is the best of two winners from winning Dubawi mare Endless Charm, a daughter of Group III winner Whazzis and half-sister to the dam of triple Group I winner Sir Delius, who scored a breath taking win in the $5million Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes last Saturday.
Oxagon is the 174th stakes-winner champion sire Frankel ans is his 15th from a daughter of Dubawi with that nick running at 22% SW to runner.
