Eminent to test Classic credentials at Craven meeting

Martyn Meade is already on the pace in the fashion stakes by having a winning son of Frankel in his Newmarket stable for 2017 and is hopeful colt Eminent can prove a genuine 2,000 Guineas contender at the Craven meeting next week.

A 40-1 chance with bet365 for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas on May 6, Eminent made a perfect start when winning a maiden on his debut on the Rowley Mile in September and could be one of many Frankel offspring that do battle in the race their sire won so memorably in 2011.

Meade said: "You've got to have a Frankel in your yard in this day and age haven't you and hopefully we've found a good one.

"There could be three or four Frankels lining up in the 2,000 Guineas which is exciting and the plan is to run Eminent in either the Craven Stakes or the Feilden Stakes next week to see where we are before we make a decision about the 2,000 Guineas."

In contrast to most of the Frankels that have been on the market, Eminent was in the bargain basement category when agent Dermot Farrington picked him up privately for 150,000 gns after he failed to make his reserve at Tattersalls in October 2015.

Meade added: "He was very backward and gangly as a two-year-old and we didn't think we would get a run into him at one stage.

"You could see why many people were put off at the sales as he looked as if he would take an awfully long time to make it onto the track but we took a punt and he just progressed and progressed."

Prior to his win, Eminent was giving out the right signals at home to prompt a significant change of colours before he had even run.

Meade said: "New Zealander Sir Peter Vela, who has owned a Melbourne Cup winner, bought him before the race and came over to see him run.

"I was very worried that if he had run badly it could have been a disaster with our new owner but it turned into a fairytale really and hopefully Sir Peter will be back on Guineas weekend."

Meade, who recently bought the nearby Snailwell Stud to complement his 50-box set up at Sefton Lodge on Newmarket's Bury Road, added: "We've always thought Eminent will stay further than a mile and that's why he's in the Dante Stakes and the Investec Derby. His dam was placed over a mile and a half so he could be in that sort of territory in time."