This week’s G3 Craven Stakes winner Trumpet Major has a lot in common with incoming Mungrup Stud shuttler Dick Turpin.

Trumpet Major (3c Arakan – Ashford Cross by Cape Cross) firmed into $6 for the G1 English 2000 Guineas after clearing out to win the traditional classic trial by five lengths at Newmarket on Thursday.  “I probably got there too soon,” winning jockey Ryan Moore said.  “He had a good look around once in front.”

Trumpet Major and Dick Turpin both emerged from Richard Hannon’s Wiltshire stables for owner John Manley.  And they are both sons of Ballyhane Stud stallion Arakan.  “He will definitely improve,” Moore added.  “He’s twice the horse he was last year and will go into the Guineas with a chance.”

An early two-year-old in the Hannon mould, Trumpet Major broke his maiden at Goodwood in May 2011 before going down a short head to Talwar (Acclamation) in the LR Winkfield Stakes at Ascot in July.  After winning a restricted race at Newmarket, he claimed the G2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September before suffering traffic problems when fifth in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes.

Trumpet Major is poised to go one better than Dick Turpin who was runner-up in the 2010 English 2000 Guineas to Makfi.  He was also second home in the French 2000 Guineas behind Lope De Vega.

Dick Turpin (5h Arakan – Merrily by Sharrood) turned the tables on Lope De Vega with a four length victory in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.  And in his final season as a four year-old in 2011, he again impressed with a late charge to snatch victory from fellow British raider Cityscape in the G1 Premio Vittorio Di Capua in Milan.

Dick Turpin (Ire) is currently serving his first northern book at the English National Stud.  His sire Arakan was a G3 winner for the Niarchos Family and he hails from the Nureyev branch of the Northern Dancer sireline.

Mingrup Stud’s Gray Williamson will stand Dick Turpin alongside Danehill Express (Danehill), Due Sasso (Scenic), Australian bred Oratorio (Stravinsky), Hala Bek (Halling) and Red Hot Choice (Redoutes Choice) at his Great Southern nursery in Western Australia.