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Masar storms to Craven Stakes glory at Newmarket

Masar ridden by James Doyle comes home to win The BetBright Solario Stakes  at Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Satur
Image: Masar (left) wins

Masar produced a spectacular front-running display to cause a minor upset in the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket.

The John Gosden-trained Roaring Lion was the 8-13 favourite to cement his Classic claims after chasing home Saxon Warrior in the Racing Post Trophy and winning three of his four juvenile starts, including the Royal Lodge Stakes over course and distance,

Charlie Appleby's Masar, who finished out with the washing on the dirt in Dubai last month, was a 7-2 chance under William Buick, but proved an entirely different proposition back on the grass.

A smart start allowed Masar to take the lead from the off and Buick appeared intent on making the straight-mile contest a thorough test, winding up the gallop with over two furlongs to run.

Roaring Lion did his best to keep tabs on the leader, but rather than close the gap, Masar found another gear to pull right away and passed the post a most impressive nine lengths clear.

In the end, Roaring Lion was even beaten to the runner-up spot by White Mocha.

Appleby said: "On what we've seen out there he's going to be a big contender (for the Guineas). He's a live shot, no doubt about that.

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"We were confident we were either going to win or finish second to Roaring Lion.

"In Meydan he was a bit gassy and wanted to get on with it. Today we've taken the hood off.

"It was never the intention to run him there (Dubai), but he was just getting a bit too well. I needed to get a run into him to put some manners on him and the intention was always to come to the Craven anyway.

"Obviously the Guineas route is going to be foremost in our sights now."

Gosden was not ruling out a Guineas bid for the vanquished Roaring Lion.

He said: "You get a small field here. They go steady, steady, steady and then 'boom' from the bushes.

"I'm perfectly happy. He was 80 per cent. He tired in the last furlong.

"For me, he needs an end-to-end gallop. He does not want a steady one and a dash. I'm perfectly happy with the horse."

He added: "He may well go for the Guineas. I'd hope there'd be proper pace all the way. There usually is. It's very different to the trial.

"I think his strength in the end will be a mile and a quarter at least. He's beautifully bred to do that.

"He's in the Prix du Jockey Club as well, but the Guineas is still very much an option."

Hugo Palmer said of the runner-up White Mocha: "We'll probably skip the Guineas and go a mile and a quarter next time."

Paddy Power and RaceBets cut Masar to 8-1 from 20-1 and 33-1 respetively for the Qipco 2000 Guineas on May 5. Appleby said: "On what we've seen out there he's going to be a big contender (for the Guineas). He's a live shot, no doubt about that. "We were confident we were either going to win or finish second to Roaring Lion. "In Meydan he was a bit gassy and wanted to get on with it. Today we've taken the hood off. "It was never the intention to run him there (Dubai), but he was just getting a bit too well. I needed to get a run into him to put some manners on him and the intention was always to come to the Craven anyway. "Obviously the Guineas route is going to be foremost in our sights now." Gosden was not ruling out a Guineas bid for the vanquished Roaring Lion. He said: "You get a small field here. They go steady, steady, steady and then 'boom' from the bushes. "I'm perfectly happy. He was 80 per cent. He tired in the last furlong. "For me, he needs an end-to-end gallop. He does not want a steady one and a dash. I'm perfectly happy with the horse." He added: "He may well go for the Guineas. I'd hope there'd be proper pace all the way. There usually is. It's very different to the trial. "I think his strength in the end will be a mile and a quarter at least. He's beautifully bred to do that. "He's in the Prix du Jockey Club as well, but the Guineas is still very much an option." Hugo Palmer said of the runner-up White Mocha: "We'll probably skip the Guineas and go a mile and a quarter next time."

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