Avicenna
Avicenna put up a nice performance to finish second behind Oxagon in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday. Settled in last of the five runners early on by Ray Dawon, he travelled well through his race. He was a little awkward on the run into the Dip, and he had to switch to his left and move between horses on the run to the furlong marker, which meant that he had to check his momentum as the winner was kicking for home. He did well then to stay on from there, passing three of his rivals and getting to within two lengths of the winner by the time he got to the winning line. He was fastest of all through three of the last four furlongs.
The race lost some of its lustre with the defection of the Beresford Stakes and Futurity Trophy winner Hawk Mountain, but Oxagon is a good horse, second in the Champagne Stakes and fifth in the Dewhurst last season, who had lots of racing experience and who had the run of the race from the front. Avicenna raced just twice last season, but Roger Varian's colt showed a good attitude to get up and beat Hankelow in a listed race at Doncaster's St Leger meeting last September. This was just his third run and his first since then and, a late May foal, he should be able to progress now as we move through the season. A half-brother to Amortentia, a winner over a mile, he saw out this mile well. He holds entries in the 2000 Guineas and in the Irish 2000 Guineas, or his trainer said afterwards that he could go for the French Guineas, but he will be of interest wherever he goes next.
Newmarket, 16th April 2026
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