Fabre has designs on Abernant prize with Sajir

Andre Fabre heads to Newmarket on Wednesday seeking plenty of clues for the year ahead, as Sajir represents the French maestro in the Blandford Bloodstock Abernant Stakes.

The four-year-old will have the assistance of Oisin Murphy in the saddle and having spent most of last season competing in top company over seven furlongs across the Channel, now drops back slightly in trip after a winning return at Chantilly last month.

“I think coming back this year and with race fitness on his side, Andre just felt coming here we can find out if we stay at six furlongs or go back up to seven,” explained Ted Voute, racing adviser to Sajir’s owner Prince Faisal.

“We went to Chantilly to see if we should consider the Al Quoz, but we didn’t think he was quite man enough for a Group One just yet.

“There’s not that many opportunities around at six furlongs, but at this time last year he won the Prix Sigy over five and a half.

“There’s the nice race over seven at York in the summer (City of York Stakes) and obviously six-furlong races at Royal Ascot and it would be great if we end up being good enough to compete in those – and you never quite know how much improvement there is to come with these sprinters.”

Sajir rates as the most likely danger to the bookmakers’ idea of the winner, Charlie Appleby’s Romantic Style.

A course and distance winner at two, she lowered the colours of Ramatuelle early in her Classic season before finishing fourth in the French 1000 Guineas.

Although a below-par performance in the Prix Jean Prat signalled the end of her campaign last year, she has since returned to top form with two fine displays in Meydan.

Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “Romantic Style has come back from Dubai in great order. She was beaten by a subsequent Group One winner (Choisya) in the Cape Verdi and dropping back to six furlongs really suited her last time out.

“We wouldn’t want it too quick for her, but she looks great and I’m hoping she’s a filly that we can have a bit of fun with in the sprinting division this season.”

Karl Burke’s Lethal Levi and Peter Charalambous and James Clutterbuck’s Apollo One are both admirable servants who finished 2024 in winning form, while Mick Appleby has high hopes Royal Zabeel can translate his brilliant all-weather form this winter to turf dropping back to six furlongs.

“He’s in good order and I don’t think the drop back to six will inconvenience him as he has plenty of natural speed,” said Rutland-based Appleby.

“It will be interesting to see what he can do on grass following on from his good all-weather campaign and it will be great if he can translate it to turf.

“I think he could actually be better on the turf and it would be nice if he is, as it opens up plenty of options and allows us to go to all the big meetings, he would probably be one of the highest rated we have at the minute along with Big Mojo and Mr Lightside.”

Henry Candy’s Run To Freedom and Kevin Ryan’s stable newcomer Grand Grey complete the field of seven.