A red-hot G1 Lockinge Stakes (1600m) at Newbury on Saturday (16 May) is shaped by proven Group 1 winners at the mile, but a fast-improving Frankel colt adds intrigue.

Among the 10-strong field are a mix of established Group 1 performers and progressive challengers, with connections hoping to land Europe’s top early-season mile contest for older horses.

The three G1 winners at this trip are William Buick’s mount Notable Speech, Sahlan (Mickael Barzalona) and Cicero’s Gift (Jason Watson). By contrast, three major players yet to win a Group 1 over 1600m but with persuasive arguments over Newbury’s straight mile are Damysus (James Doyle), Zeus Olympios (Clifford Lee) and The Lion In Winter (Ryan Moore). Dancing Gemini, Jonquil, Mississippi River and More Thunder make up the field.

Notable Speech, the G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner in 2024, bounced back to his best last year with victories in the G1 Woodbine Mile (1600m) and Del Mar’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile (1600m). He might have completed a third straight North American G1 triumph in last month’s G1 Maker’s Mark Mile (1600m) had the five-year-old not suffered a nightmare passage up Keeneland’s home straight.

Charlie Appleby’s high-profile Godolphin stable is enduring a quiet spell, but victory for Notable Speech on Saturday would signal a return to form for the yard.

Sahlan comes from the all-conquering Chantilly stable of Francis-Henri Graffard, and the colt bagged his first Group 1 victory in a tense finish to last September’s G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1600m) at ParisLongchamp.

Graffard said: “Sahlan is a true miler who has wintered really well. He is a good ground horse.”

Referring to Sahlan’s last 2025 start, when he finished around two-and-a-quarter lengths fifth to Notable Speech at Del Mar, Graffard said: “In America, he was a bit surprised by the track and the turns but he still ran very well. I think he just lacked some experience.”

The only previous Group 1 attempt by John & Thady Gosden’s Damysus was when he was well beaten in last year’s G1 Derby Stakes (2405m) at Epsom. He is unbeaten in three starts since, and was especially stylish when accelerating away from his rivals to win the G3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes (1800m) at Newmarket last month.

The Gosden stable is looking for its third straight Lockinge Stakes victory after Audience in 2024 and Lead Artist in 2025, and Damysus, a flashy son of Frankel, has been doing some smart work on Newmarket’s Al Bahathri gallop.

Thady Gosden said: “Damysus has an explosive turn of foot, which he put to good use when he won at Newmarket. He’ll be good at 2000m but he certainly has the necessary speed for the Lockinge.”

The G1 Lockinge Stakes (1600m) is carded as S2-3 and will be run at 9.35pm (Hong Kong Time) on Saturday, 16 May.

Photo: Focus On Racing