Royal runner could throw himself into Classic picture

Saturday, 21 April 2018: Humbolt Current is likely to attract plenty of attention when he returns to action in the colours of the Queen at Newbury on Saturday.

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The Fastnet Rock colt caught the eye on his sole juvenile start last season and could put himself in the picture for the Qipco 2000 Guineas should he be successful in division one of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Maiden Stakes.

Trained by William Haggas, he did little wrong when filling the runner-up berth on his Yarmouth introduction last October and the winner, Willie John, has since changed hands for 1.9million guineas.

Haggas said: "He's a nice horse and ran well at Yarmouth.

"He's a horse we like and it will be good to get him started.

"He will come on for the run."

Humbolt Current, who has attracted money in the ante-post market for the Newmarket Classic, faces 14 rivals in the hands of James Doyle.

The Queen's racing adviser John Warren said: "All I know is he's working nicely. It's obviously a fact-finding mission to see where he sits in the picture. The form of his race is inconclusive.

"I think the way William Haggas trains he's never asked him a big question, but he's very hopeful he's going to run a very nice race. William is very keen on the horse.

"We'll learn a lot."

Haggas is hoping for a royal seal of approval at the Berkshire track, as he also saddles potential Cup-race prospect Call To Mind in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes - a Group Three registered as the John Porter.

The son of Galileo won a Listed prize at Goodwood last summer and was last seen going down narrowly in the Group Two Prix Chaudenay at Chantilly in September.

Haggas said: "He's fine and ready to go. The ground should be fine for him and this looks a good place to start. We've been pleased with how he's wintered. He's grown up a lot.

"He's a horse who stays well and we've looked after him as a young horse, so hopefully that will come to fruition this season."

Call To Mind features in a small but select field of six runners, with the Roger Varian-trained Defoe setting the standard.

The son of Dalakhani won his first four races in 2017 before disappointing in the St Leger at Doncaster.

Varian said: "He's been working well and he loves the track.

"I'm sure there will still be a bit of give underfoot and he'd appreciate that.

"He's in good form."

Danehill Kodiac (Richard Hannon), Autocratic (Sir Michael Stoute), What About Carlo (Eve Johnson Houghton) and Titi Makfi (Mark Johnston) complete the line-up.




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