The making of a ‘real professional’

Blink and you’ll miss them. The so-called trials for Britain’s first two Classics are over in a matter of five days.

Saturday’s G3 Greenham Stakes and G3 Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury complete the set.

Then, it is only two weeks to 2,000 Guineas Day, back at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile. Talk about the fast lane.

It will take a mightily impressive performance in the Greenham from either Expert Eye, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, or the George Scott-trained James Garfield, to better the G3 Craven victory of Godolphin’s Masar at Newmarket on Thursday.

Many were surprised by the authority displayed by Masar, but his trainer Charlie Appleby was not one of them.

He has always believed the New Approach colt could land a big one.

And it was Masar’s trip to Del Mar, California, in November, that may well have been a turning point for this likeable colt.

Masar had been to Royal Ascot in June, and later to Chantilly in October, but it was his sixth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf that was the making of him.

In that race, he got buffeted around in the pack as they raced tight down the back straight. The experience saw him awaken to the realities of racing.

Appleby has no doubt Del Mar brought on the colt.

“After that, he shipped out to Dubai, where he did very well over the winter.

“What you see now is Masar, the real pro,” the trainer added.

The 2,000 Guineas is the next step, with Newbury’s Greenham possibly producing one of his key dangers.