NEWMARKET, ENGLAND // Jim Crowley may have to forego the ride aboard Eminent in the English 2,000 Guineas, despite partnering the son of legendary racehorse Frankel to a commanding victory in the Craven Stakes here on Thursday.
Eminent beat Group 1 winner Rivet to land the 1,600-metre event in some style and book his berth in the Classic back here on May 6.
Crowley rides the well-fancied Zainholm in Saturday’s Greenham Stakes at Newbury Racecourse, another trial for the opening European Classic of the season.
Zainholm vies for the title of race favourite with Godolphin’s Barney Roy and Dream Castle, and should Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s horse run well and come out of the race in good form, he will almost certainly be pitched in to the Guineas.
That would result in Crowley having to ride Zainholm, whose prominent owner was here on Thursday, leaving the ride on Eminent available.
“If Zainholm won I would have thought Sheikh Hamdan would want to run him in the Guineas, all being well,” Richard Hills, the Minister of Finance’s assistant racing manager, said.
Crowley and Eminent tracked long-time leader Rivet in the Group 3 contest but with 400 metres to go the English rider instructed his mount to go for home.
Eminent had experience over these unique contours previously, having won a maiden over course and distance in September, and the further he went the better he looked.
At the line there was a length and three quarters between the two horses with Godolphin’s Benbatl edged out of the runner-up spot by a neck.
“In all the times I have ridden here I have never had a horse pull up like that,” Crowley said. “I was nearly at the road by the time we pulled up, not through him being keen but because he has such a big stride.”
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