Aidan O’Brien is already regarded as a punter-friendly figure in Australia, but his popularity will soar Down Under if he sends out Haradasun to win today’s Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. There has already been considerable ante-post interest in the five-year-old, who hasn’t run since November.

Any bloodstock agent will tell you that Haradasun has been top of the recruiting list in Australia for well over 18 months. Coolmore beat off all rivals when they paid just under £10 million for a half-share in the son of Fusaichi Pegasus and the outstanding Circles Of Gold.

That blue-blooded pedigree makes him a half-brother to Elvstroem, who is best known here as a hardy campaigner who won the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Nad Al Sheba. If Haradasun is in the same mould, he will justify his lofty price tag.

The Lockinge is a good starting point for him as he meets a collection of solid milers, though none of them appears a formidable challenger. More importantly, though, Haradasun goes well fresh, having won first-time out three seasons out of four - he was second the other time - so he should be ready.

My spies in Australia tell me that although Haradasun has won two Group Ones, including the prestigious Doncaster Handicap, at Randwick, and been placed in the Cox Plate, it was a problem with his feet that kept previous trainer Tony Vasil most concerned. He should put that behind him at Newbury today, especially as the going is good.

There have been few more confident rides than that turned in by Jamie Spencer aboard Cesare at Ascot last month. Spencer never moved a muscle as his mount came home on the bridle, but this will be a tougher assignment.

Cesare must again have solid claims, but the most serious dangers to Haradasun must be Creachadoir and Phoenix Tower, who have both been working well. Creachadoir has some brilliant form, most notably his close second to the outstanding Hong Kong horse Good Ba Ba, over a mile last December. He was caught wide throughout from a poor draw, which cost him the race. Subsequently, in Dubai, he had no luck in running in the Duty Free and finished eighth.

Phoenix Tower looked to have trained on well when beating Traffic Guard a head in the Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket last month.

Phoenix Tower’s owner Khalid Abdulla is likely to be giving Doctor Fremantle’s supplementary entry for the Derby some thought over the next 10 days. Doctor Fremantle won the Chester Vase, showing admirable acceleration, and he is being quoted at 8-1 for the Derby by Ladbrokes. Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Prince Khalid, said: “The supplementary entry is under serious consideration.”
(Source: Telegraph)