Jim Crowley: ‘Mohaafeth could not have won any easier and will head straight to Epsom.’

We’ll know more about our potential Derby chances once we’ve seen the trials at Chester, Lingfield and York in the next week or so, but I didn’t see anything run in the 2000 Guineas that struck me as an ideal Derby type.

I actually came in after his win and thought, this horse has got so much pace, he could have been placed in the Guineas, but he’s also got plenty of stamina, he wasn’t stopping at the end of the race, and you do need a turn of foot to win a Derby. He needs to step up another level, but yes, I’m excited about him.

Jim Crowley rides Zeyaadeh in the 14:15 at Chester

The action moves on to Chester this week, and I begin the meeting on Zeyaadeh in the Cheshire Oaks.

She won all three of her starts as a 2-year-old, and the form of her final win last season – in the Listed Montrose Stakes – was given a big boost when the runner-up [Mystery Angel] won Sunday’s Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket.

She’s won on different going, so is versatile in that respect, and she’s not a flashy worker at home, which I don’t mind at all. I’ve ridden plenty of good fillies who aren’t exuberant in their home work, they tend to save it for when it matters on the track, so I’m looking forward to riding her here.

This is when we’ll find out if she is an Oaks filly. Chester is a sharp track so you need a bit of luck in running, but the hope is she can run well here and set herself up for Epsom.

This race is an excellent Oaks trial, any cut in the ground here won’t inconvenience her, she struck me last year as a filly who would be better at three, and if she can beat the likes of Dubai Fountain [rated 110] here, it would be all systems go for Epsom.

Jim Crowley rides Alfaadhel in the 16:15 at Chester

Alfaadhel finished third at Newbury on his one start last year. I liked him that day, he didn’t have a hard race and I’d expect him to improve considerably for that run.

The winner that day, Foxes Tale, runs in the Dee Stakes here on Thursday, so connections clearly think highly of him.

I’m very happy being drawn in stall two here, that’s a big plus at Chester, and I’m looking forward to getting back on board and seeing where we are with him.

Jim

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