Speedy Boarding's first foal joins a host of well-bred talent at Newbury

Newbury has long been considered a destination for trainers to start off a smart two-year-old but even by the Berkshire track's standards, Saturday's bet365 EBF Novice Stakes (1.05) is a cracker.

Not only does it feature the first foal of a Group 1-winning mare, it includes several other colts produced by very well-known dams.

Legend Of Dubai has been given the best of starts to life on breeding, not only being sired by Dubawi but being the first progeny of Speedy Boarding, Meon Valley Stud's fabulous Shamardal mare who landed the 2016 Prix de l'Opera and Jean Romanet for James Fanshawe and Freddy Tylicki.

As Meon Valley tends to sell its colts, he was offered at Tattersalls Book 1 last year and Roger Varian picked him up for 500,000gns on behalf of owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.

Several other colts have been kept under the ownership of their breeders. Khalid Abdullah's Maximal is the third foal of Joyeuse, Frankel's half-sister and a dual stakes winner.

Joyeuse is already two-from-two with foals from the Sir Michael Stoute yard, producing Coronation Stakes third Jubiloso and Jovial, who was just beaten in last month's Listed Eternal Stakes. Maximal is the result of a cover by Frankel's father, Galileo.

Nat Rothschild has taken over some of the horses from a dynasty belonging to his late mother Lady Rothschild, for whom Thistle Bird won the 2014 Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland.

Legend Of Dubai, seen here as a yearlingCredit: Laura Green

Her first two foals won races, with Bullfinch showing promise at Chelmsford late last year. Keeping with the avian theme, Barn Owl is a son of Frankel and represents the same stable here.

Also starting off in a fascinating event is the Lady Bamford-bred and John Gosden-trained Guru, a well-related Kingman, as well as Rushmore, who was similarly bought for 500,000gns at Book 1 by David Redvers for Qatar Racing.

The Lope De Vega colt is a half-brother to Graham Motion's US Grade 2 winner Mrs Sippy.

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