'He’s straight enough to do himself justice' - analysis and key quotes for the Feilden Stakes

It’s ten years since Golden Horn won this race en route to victory in the Derby at Epsom and five of this season’s eight runners have entries in the big one on the first Saturday in June. 

Sallaal is among them and his pedigree alone warrants the entry. He is by Frankel and out of Nahrain, who won two Group/Grade 1s for Sallaal’s trainer Roger Varian. That makes this three-year-old a half-brother to the top-class Benbatl, who won three times at the top level.

Sallaal is also a half-brother to Elmalka, who took last year’s 1,000 Guineas for Varian, and there was a lot to like about the way he won a maiden at Yarmouth last October. He was successful by only half a length, but was strong at the finish and looks sure to stay this far.

A significant amount of progress will be needed if he is to make the step up, but he is the unexposed runner in the line-up and arguably the most exciting, so nothing would surprise.

Nightwalker is another Frankel colt, but the dam’s side of his pedigree isn’t quite so strong. Nevertheless, he has shown more than most in this field and his third in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes over a mile here last October puts him behind only Green Storm on form.

Green Storm: runner-up in Group 1 company last time

Nightwalker could improve on his first start for John and Thady Gosden following the retirement of Sir Michael Stoute but does have 10lb to find with Green Storm, so will need to step forward.

Masai Moon is likely to head the market and doesn’t have a Derby entry, but trainer Charlie Appleby took this in 2021 with Highland Avenue and he had won his previous start on the all-weather at Kempton. Masai Moon has run only once, but his victory came at that course.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Tom Marquand, rider of Green Storm
He’s got plenty of form on a soft surface, including when Group 1-placed in France, and if they get the rain they say is coming he may well be in business. I’m sure Charlie [Johnston, trainer] will have him well primed for this and he should stay well.

Richard Hannon, trainer of King Of Cities 
He was beaten in a tactical race at Newbury last time and the ground was plenty soft enough anyway, so I wouldn’t read too much into that run. The ground will be right up his street and he’s ready for a step up in trip. It’s early days, but his work is always to a high standard and he’s been away to gallop, so he’s straight enough to do himself justice.

Richard Hannon: trainer of King Of CitiesCredit: Edward Whitaker

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Nightwalker
He’s been training nicely this spring but has only been on the grass gallops once so the race could bring him on. It looks a good race, but his form from last year is strong when he had experience of the track, which should stand him in good stead.

Roger Varian, trainer of Sallaal
He wasn’t the finished article when he went to Yarmouth last year, so I was delighted he won. He’s a half-brother to Elmalka and Benbatl so has a lot to live up to but we think he’s quite smart. He’s versatile as regards ground.
Reporting by David Milnes

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