'It's a very hot renewal' - prolific Streets Of Gold takes on leading Guineas hope in Saturday's Greenham Stakes

Unbeaten juvenile Streets Of Gold will face his toughest assignment yet on Saturday when he takes on leading Guineas hope Chaldean in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes (2.40) at Newbury.

The son of Havana Gold was a stylish winner of all five starts last season for Eve Johnson-Houghton, culminating in victory in the British EBF 2YO Series Final at York in October, and now steps into Group company for the first time this weekend against ten rivals for the Group 3 contest.

A good performance on Saturday would see Streets Of Gold justify his entry in the 2,000 Guineas on May 6, when he would reoppose Saturday's odds-on favourite Chaldean, who is Britain's leading hope for the Newmarket Classic and will be reunited with Frankie Dettori following the pair's success in the Dewhurst in October.

"He has wintered well so I’m very happy with him," Johnson Houghton said. "He's not the biggest horse and hasn't grown, but he's filled out and muscled up. He seems in great form.

"He has never been a flashy work horse, but he's been working much better this year, so we are very pleased with him. It's no easy feat to win five on the bounce, he just kept rolling and getting better and better."

Streets Of Gold will be partnered by Charlie Bishop, who steered the colt to three of his five successes, and their task on Saturday was made easier after Gimcrack winner Noble Style, Godolphin's leading Guineas hope, was a notable absentee from Thursday's declarations.

However, Johnson Houghton is under no illusions of the task her colt is up against, with Horris Hill Stakes winner Knight and Mill Reef scorer Charyn also likely to feature in Saturday's 7f contest.

Chaldean (right): will be the leading danger in the Greenham on SaturdayCredit: Mark Cranham

"It's a very hot renewal of the Greenham," she added. "Chaldean looked very impressive when winning the Dewhurst well, he would be the obvious danger.

"If Streets of Gold wins the Greenham or runs well he will be heading for the 2,000 Guineas. I would be very confident that he would handle the undulations at Newmarket, he is a very balanced horse. I have no concerns with trip, his pedigree suggests he will stay but he has shown so much speed, so we can drop him back in trip if necessary."

Saturday's card at Newbury also features the fillies' Dubai Duty Free Stakes (2.05), with a field of 12 declared headed by Godolphin's maiden winner Bridestones. 

The daughter of Teofilo, who landed her only start at Yarmouth in October, will be ridden by William Buick and faces Pattern winners Swingalong and Magical Sunset in her first start in Group company. 

Rising talent Billy Loughnane will partner the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Crystallium and has also picked up a ride in the £70,000 BetGoodwin Spring Cup Handicap (3.15) on Bear Force One for Roger Teal. 

Also set to star at Newbury is Hurricane Lane, who will open proceedings in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (1.30) against seven rivals including Ascot Gold Cup second Mojo Star. 

The triple Group 1 winner raced just twice last year in a disappointing campaign following a dazzling three-year-old season but will now be worked back from the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe on September 30, having finished third in the race in 2021. 

Greenham Stakes runners and riders

Chaldean Frankie Dettori
Charyn David Egan
Classic Pat Dobbs
Grey's Monument Hector Crouch
Isaac Shelby Sean Levey
Knight James Doyle
Streets Of Gold Charlie Bishop
Theoryofeverything Robert Halvin
The Ridler William Buick
Wiltshire Tom Marquand
Zoology Oisin Murphy

2.40 Newbury (Saturday, April 22): Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes

Coral: 4-6 Chaldean, 7 Knight, 8 Charyn, Theoryofeverything, 10 Streets Of Gold, 14 Isaac Shelby, Zoology, Grey's Monument

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