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The open class horses in Britain begin their season in the Lockinge Stakes run at Newbury on Saturday.
Palace Pier added his name to a top honour roll last year and another will too in the 2022 Lockinge Stakes (1609m) at Newbury on Saturday?
2022 LOCKINGE STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Lockinge Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for open class horses at Newbury conducted by the Newbury Racecourse.
The Lockinge Stakes is run over the mile for four year olds and up. It was first run in 1958 and was won by Pall Mall.
It is the first open class Group 1 of the English season. It is an important lead up to the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The Lockinge is another feature run on a straight mile course.
It was originally a Group 2 race when grading was introduced then was Group 3 in 1983 before upgrading to Group 2 in 1985. After that it became a Group 1 in 1995 when 3yos were banned.
The Lockinge Stakes forms part of the British Champion Series.
The first winner Pall Mall won as a 3yo then as a 4yo a year later. It was owned by The Queen.
Frankel won the first start of his four year old campaign by thrashing Excelebration by five lengths.
Leading trainer is Sir Michael Stoute with eight between 1986 and 2006 and then another in 2019.
Godolphin, under their banner with four different trainers, has won four of the last eight and eight in total. Interestingly seven different jockeys won on those Godolphin winners.
Brilliant miler Palace Pier would win the 2021 Lockinge before taking out the Queen Anne and Jacques Le Marois then ran into Baaeed in the Queen Elizabeth on Champions Day.
Most wins as a jockey is by Lester Piggott with six from Frankie Dettori with five.
The race was not run in 2020 due to the impact of coronavirus.
The Lockinge Stakes was worth £350,000 in 2022.
Notable winners of the Lockinge Stakes include Palace Pier (2021), Ribchester (2017), Frankel (2012), Canford Cliffs (2011), Paco Boy (2010), Rakti (2005), Hawk Wing (2003), Cape Cross (1998), Soviet Line (1995/1996), Noalcoholic (1983), Kris (1980), Brigadier Gerard (1972), Welsh Pageant (1970/1971) and Pall Mall (1958/1959).
The 2021 Lockinge Stakes was won by Palace Pier from Lady Bowthorpe and Top Rank.
