Zakouski could take a big leap in class after he featured among 20 entries for Wednesday’s Craven Stakes at Newmarket.
The Charlie Appleby-trained colt beat the well-touted Headman on his only juvenile start on the all-weather in November and is the general third-favourite for next month’s Qipco 2000 Guineas back at Headquarters.
Appleby said: “We will go for a trial and whether that is the Craven or the seven-furlong conditions race they have at the Craven meeting, I’m not sure.
“He has wintered well, but he has completely different profile to (Breeders’ Cup winner) Line Of Duty in that he has only had one run and is completely inexperienced.
“A lot of water needs to go under the bridge before he is a Group horse. He is doing everything asked of him.
“We’ve put him in the Guineas for a reason, but he has got to turn up in a trial first.
“I can’t fault him and he is pleasing us what we are seeing, but he has got to test his mettle now in a trial.”
Zakouski is not the only Godolphin-owned contender, with Saeed bin Suroor’s Group One winner Royal Marine also entered despite disappointing outing at Meydan in January.
Aidan O’Brien has the option of running Vertem Futurity Trophy third Western Australia, while his son Joseph has entered No Needs Never, a Dundalk Listed winner last year.
