Nayef remains on course for Classic Nayef, who dominated the betting for the Sagitta 2000 Guineas until his defeat at Newmarket on Thursday, remains on course for the May 5th Classic. Over the winter the Marcus Tregoning-trained colt had been as short as 9-4 with Coral Eurobet for the 2000 Guineas after winning both his starts as a juvenile in good style. Nayef was only given the go-ahead to run in the Macau Jockey Club Craven Stakes after Tregoning had walked the Rowley Mile course which had changed to soft after heavy rain on Wednesday. He was sent off at 4-6 for yesterday`s Group Three event but finished a three-length third behind King`s Ironbridge. 'He`s bright this morning - absolutely fine,' reported Tregoning. 'It`s a little bit early yet and it`s hard to tell how he`s taken the race but he lost the normal amount of weight in the race.' Reflecting on the first defeat for the Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Nayef, the Lambourn trainer said: 'Everyone likes to win and you would have to say it was disappointing but win, lose or draw I`m glad we ran him. 'It has been difficult training him on difficult ground this spring. 'We hope to get him to the Guineas. I`ll talk to Sheikh Hamdan a week from now and discuss it.' Nayef is now a best-priced 5-1 for the 2000 Guineas with William Hill and Ladbrokes.
