By Peter Moore at Newbury Saturday 19th April

Karl Burke has not ruled out the possibility of targeting both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas after Alparslan enhanced his Classic credentials by seeing of the challenge of rivals Zavateri and Albert Einstein to win the Greenham Stakes.

The three-year-old was given a front-running ride by Clifford Lee, who has made a successful return to action following his long layoff, and did enough from the front to win by a length.

Burke said: “He’s a high-class horse, and I’m sure he’ll turn up in one of the Guineas, but it’s a case of which one we go for. We’ve got time to go to the English and Irish, but it’s a nice problem to have and I’m really happy.”

Alparslan’s sole defeat came when he was sixth in last season’s Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, and Burke added: “He’s been to Newmarket, and he didn’t like the undulations of the track, although that could’ve been down to two-year-old immaturity. It’s a question mark.

“Whether racing round a bend at Longchamp for the French Guineas would be his cup of tea, I don’t know, but the Curragh would suit him well as he’s obviously won there.”

Burke was quick to bag a double on the second day of the Dubai Free Spring Trials meeting after capturing the John Porter Stakes with Convergent with Lee in the saddle.

Jack Channon’s excellent start to the season continued with Sukanya’s success in the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes.

The three-year-old filly on debut was held up in the rear under David Probert before making good headway in the final 100 yards to win by three quarters of a length from Touleen.

He said: “She’s high-class and has got a devilish turn of foot, and she’s beaten the third-favourite for the Guineas [Touleen] on merit. She’s very good and I’m looking forward to her for the rest of the year.

Channon said: “She’s high-class and has got a devilish turn of foot, and she’s beaten the third-favourite for the Guineas [Touleen] on merit. She’s very good and I’m looking forward to her for the rest of the year.

“We’d obviously have to supplement her for the English Guineas, but my gut feeling before this is that she wouldn’t handle the Dip, so that’s why she’s in the Irish Guineas. She needs top of the ground, so we’ll see. My first reaction is that I’d like to go for the Irish Guineas, but if my arm is twisted I don’t mind having a runner in the English one.”

Channon’s successful afternoon continued after landing the lucky last on the card when Rathgar prevailed by a neck under Tom Marquand.

Richard Hannon saddled the first two home in the Class 2 one mile handicap with Linwood leading all the way to finish ahead of Classic by three quarters of a length.

Having been off for eight months and gelded, Exclusive Code took the one maiden after holding of the challenge of Lightning Thunder by three quarters of a length for Wathnan Racing and Archie Watson with James Doyle aboard.

The heavily fancied Water To Wine made an exciting debut for owner breeder George Strawbridge after pulling clear in the 1m 3f maiden to win by four and a quarter lengths under Ryan Moore.