Big Rock bids for more Group One glory in Lockinge at Newbury

It is very much the first day at school for Maurizio Guarnieri as he prepares to saddle Big Rock in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Big Rock was rated the best miler in the world last year when trained by Christopher Head, but Guarnieri only welcomed the four-year-old to his Chantilly stables three weeks ago after owners Yeguada Centurion SL decided on a switch for the new season.

The French-based Italian admits he is still getting to grips with his new charge, relying on the assistance of the colt's regular pilot Aurelien Lemaitre to guide him in the right direction.

"I received the horse three weeks ago, so I am just starting to get to know him and he is just starting to get know me," said Guarnieri.

"He is a nice horse, like a nice man, he is quiet all the time and causes no problems, he is very easy.

"I did a canter with him on the racetrack at Chantilly with a lead horse and his rider Aurelien Lemaitre and he did the minimum, so I’m not sure if he is ready to run and what percent of his potential he is at or not. But his jockey said he is always this way and the horse is always quiet in the morning. A lot of good horses are this way.

"I appreciate having this horse and each day I learn a little bit more about him, but at the moment I do not understand 100% of him."

Big Rock has finished in the top two in 10 of his 11 career starts and having filled the spot of bridesmaid in races such as the Prix du Jockey Club and Prix du Moulin, finished 2023 with a deserved victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day.

The Rock Of Gibraltar colt relished the rain-softened ground at Ascot that day and Guarnieri is hoping for even more rain at Newbury as he assesses his charge’s big-race credentials.

"He’s in