Muqbil, Tante Rose win at Newbury

Muqbil and Tante Rose earned their places in the two Guineas classics on Saturday by winning their Group 3 trials, both over a straight seven furlongs, at Newbury. Although they each scored by 1 1/4 lengths, Tante Rose was the more impressive, coming with a strong run from the back in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes.

But Tante Rose is not certain to stay the extra furlong of the 1000 Guineas, on May 4, while Muqbil, who is by Swain, should benefit from a longer distance than that of Saturday's Lane's End Greenham Stakes.

Owned by Hamdan al Maktoum and trained by John Dunlop, Muqbil ran twice last year, posting a win and finishing second in a Group 3. In the Greenham, Willie Supple brought him from the rear of the eight runners to lead 100 yards from home and beat Zafeen, who had previously finished fourth in the Dewhurst Stakes. Elusive City, who started an uneasy favorite, led two furlongs out but gave way without much of a fight when headed by Zafeen.

Barry Hills was not sure that Tante Rose would stay seven furlongs and had already entered the daughter of Barathea in the Group 3 Duke of York Stakes at six furlongs next month. But he is now happy to let the filly take her chance in the 1000.

She was timed in 1:23.92, which was 0.56 seconds faster than Muqbil in the next race, and ran on too strongly for the favorite, Crystal Star. Tante Rose is owned and was bred by Wafic Said.