'I think he's a Guineas horse' - Buick impressed as Master Of The Seas strikes

Charlie Appleby and William Buick have some big decisions to make before next month's Qipco 2,000 Guineas but there will be no complaints from either man after Master Of The Seas laid down a serious Classic marker in the bet365 Craven Stakes.

On a frosty Wednesday morning, Appleby watched One Ruler work with style on the Rowley Mile as he gears up for the 2,000 Guineas on May 1, but Master Of The Seas made sure he is not to be forgotten about and stamped his own ticket for the Guineas with a three-quarter-length success over La Barrosa, who also hails from Appleby's powerful Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket.

With a further three lengths back to Mystery Smiles in third, it was the perfect result for Appleby who by anyone's standards now has an enviable hand to play in the Guineas.

Bookmakers certainly saw the result as a big positive for the Godolphin trainer, deciding to cut Master Of The Seas and One Ruler for the Classic.

Master Of The Seas, who as Buick pointed out not only quickened into the Dip but also out the other side, was halved in price to a general 8-1, while One Ruler is even shorter and vying for favouritism at 5-1.

Also towards the head of the Guineas market are Ballydoyle's Wembley, St Mark's Basilica and Battleground but with all three yet to be seen this season, it is arguably Appleby rather than Aidan O'Brien who will be happiest at this important juncture.

Watch Master Of The Seas win the Craven

"Master Of The Seas was the class act in the race," said Appleby. "I was never really disappointed with the run in Dubai because our eye was always on a European campaign and physically I felt he'd done very well since that run."

Having raced keenly when defeated in the National Stakes last season and in the Meydan Classic in February, getting Master Of The Seas to settle was paramount and the reason Appleby decided he would race in a hood.

"The key thing was getting him to do things the right way round today," he said. "As we saw in the National Stakes and in Meydan, he was always doing too much to finish his race off in the right manner."

Despite settling much better off the pace, he still had to overcome adversity to win.

"It wasn't quite as we planned to execute it," Appleby revealed. "The plan was for La Barrosa to pop away on the front end, set a nice gallop and maybe come up the middle to give everyone a bit of racing room but that didn't materialise.

"William had to go through the gears a little bit there to find racing room and he had to ask him a question going into the Dip and he flew through the Dip and went through the line strong.

"La Barrosa was just over racing himself but was probably just a bit fresh. I'm pleased with how he ran, he's hit the line well and is entitled to come forward as it's his first run of the year."

Master Of The Seas (right) had his odds halved to a general 8-1 for the Qipco 2,000 GuineasCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Buick, winning his second Craven after Masar's success in 2018, was clearly impressed with the power beneath his saddle.

"I think he's a Guineas horse," said the rider. "Only the very good ones manage to quicken down the Dip and when they hit the rising ground they go again and that’s what this fella did. When he ran in Dubai it was a bit of a mess and I’m just glad to get him back on track."

The French Guineas could potentially be an alternative target for La Barrosa but it's Newmarket for One Ruler and Master Of The Seas, leaving Buick in particular with a tough choice to make.

"Going into a Guineas on the back of what that horse achieved today, it might be hard for William to get off him," admitted Appleby.

"He's got match fitness on his side and the Craven is a fantastic trial into the Guineas but as usual we'll sit down, chunter away and try and come up with the right horses.

"Master Of The Seas is naturally a quicker horse and very athletic. One Ruler is a bigger individual with more scope about him. I don't know if he will get a mile and a half but I think ten furlongs will be his most optimum trip. They're both strong travellers but Master Of The Seas probably has more natural speed."

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