Nostrum stakes early Guineas claim after Newmarket success for Stoute

Two-year-old debut winners for the master trainer Sir Michael Stoute normally turn out to be very useful and Nostrum proved that was the case again when following up in excellent style on the opening day of Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire meeting.

The strapping son of Kingman quickened clear to see off Holloway Boy, himself a rarer specimen as a debut winner at Royal Ascot, in the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes on Wednesday and earned an 8-1 quote for next year’s 2,000 Guineas back at the track in May from Betfair. The Godolphin-owned favourite Victory Dance was third.

The winner is also 4-1 for the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket next month if connections fancy a step up in class with the very promising winner, but Stoute was cautious about that prospect when asked but was clearly keen to race his charge once more this campaign.

Stoute told Racing TV: “I wasn’t confident with two good colts in opposition with good form but he had progressed well from Sandown and we were hopeful and in the end it was very satisfactory.

“I would be very happy to give him a third start but quite frankly at this time of year you don’t know. We’ll have to take him back and relax him, put him in strong work and see what the vibes are. There are a few opportunities [including the Dewhurst] and I haven’t given it serious thought because we wanted to get over today.”

“He’s an easy horse to train – he’s very laid back but just a little bit babyish and a bit immature mentally,” added the Newmarket trainer. TP

The on-off relationship between owner Kia Joorabchian and his former No 1 rider, Rossa Ryan, seems to be blossoming again, with Ryan booked for Persian Force in the Group One Middle Park Stakes on Saturday, and they also have a leading