Frankel begins 3-year-old season at Newbury

Frankel, considered one of the finest 2-year-olds to race in England in recent years and the favorite for the 2000 Guineas on April 30, will make his 3-year-old debut as a prohibitive favorite in Saturday’s Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury, England.

Trained by Henry Cecil for Juddmonte Farms, Frankel is considered a 2-5 shot for the Greenham, which is run over a straightaway seven furlongs and has drawn a field of six.

Named in the memory of the late American Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, who trained for Juddmonte, Frankel was unbeaten in four races last year, ending the season with wins in two important stakes – the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes by 10 lengths at Ascot in September and the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Oct. 16.

Frankel, by Galileo, will be ridden by regular rider Tom Queally in the Greenham.

The field includes the accomplished sprinter Strong Suit, an American-bred colt by Rahy who is trained by Richard Hannon. Strong Suit won the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer and later placed in two Grade 1 sprint stakes.

The Newbury card on Saturday also features the Dubai Duty Free Stakes, formerly known as the Fred Darling Stakes, which is run over seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies, and is a key prep for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1. Cape Dollar, the winner of the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last fall in her final start of 2, is part of a field of 11.

Newmarket: Native Khan wins Craven

Native Khan won Thursday’s Group 3 Craven Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket by two lengths as the 8-11 favorite.

Native Khan, a Group 3 winner at 2, stalked the pace for the first six furlongs under jockey Kieran Fallon before taking the lead and holding off 4-1 second choice Libranno, trained by Hannon.

Native Khan, a French-bred by Azamour, is trained by Ed Dunlop. Native Khan may return in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp on May 15, although Dunlop did not rule out the English 2000 Guineas. If Native Khan starts in the English 2000 Guineas, he may need a new rider.

Fallon, the former champion jockey, received a 10-day suspension at Kempton Park, near London, on Wednesday after failing to ride his mount to the wire, the stewards ruled. Fallon’s mount, Sukhotai, finished third in a handicap, losing second by a nose. Fallon indicated he would appeal the suspension, which covers racing from April 27 to May 6.

Native Khan is as low as 10-1 in the future book for the 2000 Guineas, for which Frankel is generally 4-5.

Also at Newmarket on Thursday, Auld Burns won the Tattersalls Millions 3-Year-Old Trophy for sale graduates, which was run over 1 1/4 miles and was worth approximately $410,000.

Auld Burns, a gelding by Pastoral Pursuits, won by a half-length over 9-2 Measuring Time. The first two finishers are trained by Hannon.