BoyleSports Lockinge Stakes
 QuinnBet
Group 1, Newbury 14:35
£400,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
1m, Class 1    
Saturday 17th May 2025

BetGoodwin

1 Lead Artist 17/2
2 Dancing Gemini 2/1F
3 Rosallion 9/4
8 ran NR: Prague Distances: nk, 2¼l, shd
Time: 1m 35.06s (fast by 0.74s)

There was no shortage of class, depth or anticipation heading into the  race, but it was Lead Artist, the 17-2 outsider of the Gosden-trained trio, who stole the spotlight with a performance of grit and flair to edge out a gallant Dancing Gemini in a pulsating finale at Newbury.

Twelve months ago he was still a work in progress, but fast-forward to Saturday and the Juddmonte-owned colt proved he now belongs at racing’s top table, producing a stirring late flourish under Oisin Murphy to land his first Group Oneby a neck – and erase the memory of his subdued seasonal debut when last behind Dancing Gemini in the bet365 Mile.

If that run had raised eyebrows, it was all part of the plan, as John Gosden explained:

“He was working beautifully at home, but at Sandown he just blew up—simple as that. The dead ground didn’t help either. Kieran looked after him, and it’s brought him forward exactly as we hoped.”

With Rosallion well-fancied and Dancing Gemini coming in off a strong seasonal bow, few gave Lead Artist top billing. But from early on, there was a sense Murphy had him exactly where he wanted. Settled sweetly, travelling with purpose, and poised to pounce as the race developed into a true test of stamina over the straight mile.

“It was a proper gallop,” Gosden said. “And Oisin gave him a peach. If they’d gone slow and sprinted, it might’ve been different. But this way, stamina and class came to the fore. When they came at him, he had more to give—and he showed that real Dubawi depth.”

Behind them, Rosallion boxed on for third, but the battle was up front: Murphy versus Marquand, Lead Artist versus Dancing Gemini, stride for stride through the final furlong until Murphy’s mount, with ears pinned and neck extended, asserted in the dying bounds.

For Murphy, it was a poignant win—his first Group One in the Juddmonte silks, and a touch of redemption too.

“I’ve been on the wrong end of a few close ones here—including when Lightning Spear was just denied in this race in 2018,” he said. “So it’s sweet to turn the tables. He’s a proper horse—relaxed, gutsy, and brave when it mattered.”

With Royal Ascot now firmly on the horizon, Lead Artist has been clipped into 4-1 favouritism for the Queen Anne Stakes, with Dancing Gemini just behind him at 5s, and Rosallion at 6s.

And barring rain, Team Clarehaven will be heading that way with growing confidence.

“As long as the ground’s right, we’ll be there,” Gosden confirmed. “It’s the natural next step, and a stiff mile at Ascot—run at pace—will suit him perfectly.”

Boylesports

Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes
(British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£400,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (3)    Lead Artist 4 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Oisin Murphy 17/2
2 (1) nk Dancing Gemini 4 9-2 Roger Teal Ryan Moore 2/1F
3 (7) 2¼ Rosallion 4 9-2 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 9/4
4 (9) shd Notable Speech 4 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick 9/2
5 (4) 1½ Checkandchallenge 6 9-2 William Knight Silvestre De Sousa 125/1
6 (5) 1½ Fallen Angel 4 8-13 K R Burke Kieran Shoemark 20/1
7 (6) 1¾ Tamfana 4 8-13 David Menuisier Rossa Ryan 15/2
8 (8) 5 Persica 4 9-2 Richard Hannon Tom Marquand 22/1
NR 6 (2) Prague 5 9-2 Dylan Cunha NON RUNNER