Arab holds all the aces in Princess Of Wales’s Stakes

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute has dominated the Princess of Wales’s Stakes in the last decade, and Arab Spring looks a worthy favourite to provide him with another winner in today’s feature contest at Newmarket (2.40).

The Newmarket handler has own five of the last nine renewals, and in Arab Spring has an ultra-progressive colt who looks a potential Group 1 performer in the making.

The son of Monsun is unbeaten in four starts this season, winning competitive handicaps and Doncaster and York before defying top-weight in style in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Arab Spring travelled strongly throughout in the latter, and after quickening to take up the running a furlong from home only had to be ridden out to easily beat Salutation by two lengths.

It was a performance which oozed class, and connections made it clear afterwards that they thought the four-year-old still had more to offer and could potentially be a top class Group 1 performer in time.

This Group 2 contest looks a logical step to those aspirations, and with the 1m 4f trip and fast ground holding no fears, Arab Spring looks poised to complete the five-timer in the hands of Ryan Moore.

The biggest danger to Arab Spring could well be stable companion Hillstar.

The colt was a progressive sort last season, starting life off in handicaps before landing the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal ascot in good style from Battle of Marengo.

The son of Danehill Dancer then ran a cracker to finish a staying on third to Novelist in the Group 1 King George, and was far from disgraced in two subsequent starts in the same grade behind the smart Declaration Of War and Farhh.

That is very strong form, and Hillstar looked to be coming to hand when staying on late to finish runner-up to Telescope in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out.