Lucky 13 in the mix for Lockinge glory A mouthwatering Boyle Sports Lockinge Stakes is in prospect this weekend, with 13 in contention following the confirmation stage for the Group One showpiece at Newbury on Saturday. The list includes Damysus (John and Thady Gosden), Opera Ballo (Charlie Appleby) and Zeus Olympios, who was third to the impressive Godolphin runner in the bet365 Mile at Sandown last month. That was a first career defeat for Karl Burke’s runner, but the Middleham trainer is expecting a deal of improvement, saying: “He’s in great form and will definitely come on fitness-wise for his run at Sandown. “It’s an open-looking Lockinge and I’ve not lost any confidence in him for getting beat. Obviously it was disappointing to lose his unbeaten tag, but it in the long-term that is irrelevant.” O’Brien Bolsters Squad with Supplementary Entry Appleby also has Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Notable Speech involved, with Aidan O’Brien represented by The Lion In Winter, Expanded and Mississippi River, who has been supplemented to help make the pace. O’Brien said: “The Lion In Winter goes to Newbury, we supplemented a horse this morning to make the running for him (Mississippi River) and Expanded is there as well. “We haven’t seen the best of The Lion In Winter yet. If we get the right set up for him, we might see it. “We’ll go to the Lockinge and see what will happen. I think he’s come forward from Leopardstown, he needs to, but I think he has.” Dancing Gemini just missed out 12 months ago and will try again for Roger Teal, with intriguing French interest added by Prix du Moulin winner Sahlan – fifth to Notable Speech at Del Mar – for the red-hot Francis-Henri Graffard yard. Completing the field are Cicero’s Gift (Charlie Hills), Jonquil and Gladius (both Andrew Balding) and More Thunder (William Haggas).
