The Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, just West of London, is one of the leading races of the Flat season in the UK, and this year’s contest has attracted a strong field, with multiple Group One winners set to line up in the 1m race.
Newbury’s feature contest is part of the British Champion Mile Series, and the winner is expected to head to Royal Ascot a month later for the Queen Anne Stakes on day one of the royal meeting.
Rosallion Set to Make His Return to the Track
It’s Rosallion’s day in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/ptrLHQX5AC
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2024
After recording back-to-back Group One wins in the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes in 2024, Rosallion was one of the star three-year-olds last season. Unfortunately for his connections, he missed the second half of the campaign through injury. In what will be his opening run against the older horses, he is the 2/1 favourite in the horse race betting for the 2025 Lockinge Stakes.
Using a bet calculator, we can see that a £10 single on Rosallion to prevail on his comeback run generates a return of £30. Those odds indicate strong confidence behind Richard Hannon’s colt to pick up from where he left off in 2024.
The son of Blue Point has suffered just one defeat over 1m. He was second in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. With more experience now on his side, Hannon will be hoping he can put a marker down in the 1m division ahead of what may prove to be a big year for the horse.
Notable Speech Looking for Another Hot Start to Year
City Of Troy is beaten! 😮
Notable Speech maintains his unbeaten record winning the QIPCO 2000 Guineas 💥 pic.twitter.com/2IxU6BpIxj
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) May 4, 2024
British Classic winner Notable Speech won his opening four starts on the track last year, including a triumph at the sport’s HQ in the 2000 Guineas. Since then, he has featured in three different countries in some of the biggest races around the world.
The Godolphin runner, who is trained by Charlie Appleby, was last seen when finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar. It was his eighth start of the year in what was an intense campaign.
With a long break over the winter, Notable Speech’s connections will be hopeful that he will return much fresher. He is the joint highest-rated horse in the Lockinge Stakes entries, and with just over £1mn in prize money, no runner has earned more in their career so far.
Dancing Gemini Impressed in Doncaster Mile
Unlike many of his rivals, Dancing Gemini already has a run under his belt this season. The four-year-old prevailed in the Doncaster Mile at the Lincoln Meeting at Doncaster in March. Under the hands of Kieran Shoemark, the pair prevailed impressively by just under four lengths.
Dancing Gemini was a winner at Newbury in 2023. He broke his maiden at the Berkshire-based racecourse in a contest over 7f. If Roger Teal’s runner can prevail on his return to the same venue, it will be the biggest win of his career to date.
The 2025 Lockinge Stakes takes place on Saturday, 17th of May, and a big crowd is expected to be in attendance at Newbury, with many racing fans making the short trip across from London.
