Music Show returns in Nell Gwyn

The British flat racing season begins in earnest at Newmarket on Wednesday with four classic preps, headed by the Group 3, $100,000 Nell Gwyn Stakes. The 11-4 favorite Music Show will attempt to repeat her Oct. 17 victory in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes, which came on the same course and at the seven-furlong distance of the Nell Gwyn.

Music Show will be challenged again by Atasari, who second by a neck in the Rockfel. Dyna Waltz, a close fifth in the Group 1 Fillies Mile, and Srda, who has run twice already this year, are among the contenders. Srda won a six-furlong Lingfield maiden and a 1 3/16-mile Wolverhampton handicap, both on Polytrack.

Mata Keranjang, twice third in group race company last year, and Red Jazz, third in the Group 2 July Stakes, hook up in the seven-furlong European Free Handicap, a minor prep for the 2000 Guineas.

Also on the card are two early trials for the June 5 Epsom Derby. Timepiece will be odds-on to take the 1 1/8-mile Feilden Stakes against colts off her win last October in the listed Montrose Stakes. The $385,000 Tattersalls Trophy at 1 1/4 miles features Group 3 Prix Thomas Bryon third-place finisher Ameer, maiden winner Next Move, Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud fourth-place finisher Don Carlos, and Doctor Zhivago, who was 2-for-2 on the Southwell Fibresand this winter.