IRISH champion Mick Kinane won the Group Three Craven Stakes at rain-lashed Newmarket yesterday on King's Theatre and the colt is now 6-1 favourite for the 2,000 Guineas and 10-1 for the Epsom Derby in June.
It was an important win for Kinane as King's Theatre is owned by Sheik Mohammad for whom the Irishman now rides under a special retainer.
In appalling conditions, King's Theatre won very courageously by a short head from Colonel Collins with a similar margin back to Suplizi.
King's Theatre, trained by Henry Cecil and now a major chance for Sheik Mohammad to win the Guineas or the Derby in which he has never been successful, hit the front three furlongs out.
Kinane dropped his whip inside the final half-furlong and King's Theatre was headed by Colonel Collins before battling back to snatch victory on the line.
Kinane said: ''It was a very game win and he's as tough as nails. You have to admire him for winning like that because it was a very hard race.'' The Group Three event is the feature race at the three-day Newmarket meeting and a definite guide to the upcoming Classics.
