SEVEN-time Group 1 winner Minding headlines 28 entries for the £350,000 Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 20th.

Minding was crowned Europe's champion three-year-old filly and Horse of the Year at the Cartier Racing Awards last year, after a season that included victories in both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks before culminating with a decisive win over Ribchester and Lightning Spear in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October.

That pair, trained by Richard Fahey and David Simcock respectively, could be in opposition again at Newbury, while last year's 2000 Guineas hero Galileo Gold could represent Hugo Palmer.

Cheveley Park Stud has two contenders in Zonderland (Clive Cox) and Persuasive (John Gosden) in a bid for a sixth victory in the race. Zonderland won the Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury last August, with Persuasive successful on five of her six starts.

Managing director Chris Richardson said: "Zonderland looks fine. He has wintered well and we are very happy with him. I think he will probably go for a listed race before we consider the Lockinge Stakes. He ran so well in the Celebration Mile last year that we felt he warranted an entry.

"Similarly, Persuasive looks fantastic and has strengthened well. John Gosden is very happy with her. Both look very nice prospects going forward."

He added: "Mr (David) and Mrs (Patricia) Thompson like having entries and runners in the Lockinge - the race has been very lucky for us. The stud has won it five times so far and Mr and Mrs Thompson won it with Safawan and Polar Falcon. We also bred Soviet Line who was a dual winner in the mid-1990s."

NINE IRISH ENTRIES

Minding's trainer Aidan O'Brien has seven of the nine Irish-trained entries with three-time Group 1 scorer Alice Springs, Cougar Mountain and twice-raced four-year-old De Coronado, who is a full-brother to the great Zenyatta, under consideration.

Mutakayyef could represent William Haggas, and Gosden is also responsible for Richard Pankhurst and Tashweeq.

Other eyecatching possibles include Dutch Connection, Convey, Kool Kompany and classic-placed Group 3 winner Dicton.