Nakheel Heads Mark Johnston’s Stan James 2000 Guineas Team
03/03/06

Nakheel, trained by Mark Johnston, is “looking fantastic” and on course for a crack at the Stan James 2000 Guineas, the first Classic of the 2006 Flat season, run over the NatWest Rowley Mile at Newmarket on Saturday, May 6.

The Sadler’s Wells colt, rated a 25/1 chance by Stan James, won both starts as a two-year-old over a mile and followed his maiden win at Hamilton in September with an impressive four-length victory in the Listed Silver Tankard Stakes at Pontefract a month later, looking an exciting prospect for the future.

Mark Johnston revealed today: “Nakheel has wintered very well indeed. No final decision has been made on where he starts off yet, as I haven’t discussed the matter with Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum [Nakheel’s owner], but there’s no reason why he shouldn’t go for the Stan James 2000 Guineas, and I’m preparing him with that race in mind.

“He looks fantastic at the moment and probably would not have a prep run before the Guineas. Getting horses fit for the Guineas has never been a problem for us - we won the 2000 with Mr Baileys and the 1000 with Attraction first time up, so it’s not an issue.”

Johnston did sound a slight note of caution, stating that unlike his two previous Guineas winners, Nakheel has yet to encounter Group-race opposition.

The Middleham handler continued: “The others were Group winners at two years, so there is a case that he should maybe run in a Group race before the Guineas, rather than jumping straight into a Group One, but I don’t see where there’s a suitable race for him.

“He is bred for further than a mile, so there is an issue over the suitability of the trip, and he is in the Derby, but he does show us a lot of speed.

“The Stan James 2000 Guineas in itself is a great trial for the Derby, so there’s no reason why he can’t run at Newmarket with a view to running over further later on. He’s won on good to firm and good to soft so should handle any ground.”

The trainer also outlined plans for his other Stan James 2000 Guineas hopes, headed by Black Charmer, whose only success came in a maiden at Doncaster, but who acquitted himself well in Group races subsequently, including when a half-length third to Sir Percy in the seven-furlong Vintage Stakes at Goodwood on his final start.

“Black Charmer was a bit of a bridesmaid last year, but he’s actually my highest rated three-year-old, having been very consistent in Group races last season, so he has to be considered. I’m delighted with his progress and he’ll probably go for a trial first,” commented Johnston.

Atlantic Waves
© racing-images.co.uk

“Atlantic Waves is also a possible for the Guineas - he would have to have a run beforehand and he is a more typical Sadler’s Wells than Nakheel, and probably more likely to require further.

“He won very well on his debut at Leicester and I was slightly disappointed with his second run [fifth in a mile Group Three contest at Salisbury], but it was a muddling race and they all finished in a bunch.”

The final possible Stan James 2000 Guineas contender from the Johnston stable is Prince Of Light, successful in the Group Three Sirenia Stakes on Newmarket’s July Course in September before finishing fifth to Amadeus Wolf in the Group One Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs on the NatWest Rowley Mile course later in the same month.

Johnston added: “Prince Of Light is another who would go for a Guineas trial first before we make a decision on the big race.”

The trainer reported that he had no entries in this year’s Stan James 1000 Guineas, and that his filly Desert D’Argent, winner of both starts at two, had fractured a pedal-bone and would not be seen out until the middle of the year.

The Stan James Guineas Festival takes place on the NatWest Rowley Mile course at Newmarket on Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7. Both the Stan James 1000 Guineas and the Stan James 2000 Guineas are worth a record £330,000 in 2006.