2000 Guineas

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has issued an update from the Flat Pattern Committee which outlines a revised schedule of Pattern and Listed races for the end of May and early June. With the aim to "prioritise the Classics and other flagship races for horses most likely to provide a future fundamental role on behalf of the breed", the committee, working under a "best-case scenario" for a mid-May resumption of racing in Britain, is planning to rescue a number of abandoned races from the early part of the season. These...

This weekend marks four years since Galileo Gold (Ire) handed trainer Hugo Palmer a first British Classic win in the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas, and while it will be some weeks yet before we see another name added to that historic contest's honour roll, with the race postponed to likely early June due to COVID-19, trainer Hugo Palmer is passing the time with memories of Al Shaqab's chestnut. Palmer recalled on Wednesday how Galileo Gold, winner of the G2 Vintage S. at two and third in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc...

Trainer Roger Teal lit up the board in the 2018 G1 2000 Guineas with Anne Cowley's Tip Two Win (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who finished second to Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) at 5-1, and Teal is aiming to go one better in this year's Guineas, when it happens, with Kenzai Warrior (Karakontie {Jpn}). Bought for £45,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale last year, Kenzai Warrior subsequently went unbeaten in two outings, breaking his maiden at Salisbury on Sept. 5 before taking Newmarket's G2 Horris Hill S. over...

Trainer Andrew Balding said he would rather see the G1 Investec Derby go ahead on a different date and on a different racecourse than usual than no Derby at all. Jockey Club Racecourses revealed on Tuesday that the Guineas Festival, originally set for May 2 and 3, and the Investec Derby Festival on June 5 and 6 would definitely be pushed back, with dates to be decided when it is more clear when racing will resume. Balding, who trains Guineas hopeful Kameko (Kitten's Joy), told Sky Sports Racing, "Obviously it's...

The British racing calendar received a modicum of clarity-and plenty more uncertainty still-on Tuesday morning with announcements that Britain's first four Classics would be pushed back, and Royal Ascot would take place behind closed doors as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jockey Club Racecourses confirmed that the Qipco Guineas Festival, originally set for May 2 and 3 and featuring the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 1000 Guineas, and the Investec Derby Festival on June 5 and 6 featuring the G1 Investec Derby and G1 Investec Oaks, would both be...

The Qipco Guineas Festival and the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom Downs will not be staged on their previously planned dates of May 2 and 3 and June 5 and 6, respectively, due to the ongoing public health emergency associated with COVID-19. The Jockey Club Racecourses said in a statement on Tuesday that it is in talks with the British Horseracing Authority, participants and other key stakeholders, including the Horserace Betting Levy Board and commercial partners, to come up with new dates for the G1 2000 Guineas, G1 1000 Guineas,...

NEWMARKET, UK—It's hard not to feel like Christmas has just been cancelled. The Flat turf season doesn't revolve around Newmarket, of course. There are more than 14,000 horses in training in Britain and only about 2,500 of those are based in the East Anglian town, but that does make it the busiest training centre and, as the place where it all began, Newmarket lays claims to being the sport's unofficial HQ. Having emerged from the wettest and windiest of winters with the start of the turf now just days rather...

Charlie Appleby's champion juvenile Pinatubo (Ire) as well as Andre Fabre's Group 1 winners Earthlight (Ire) and Victor Ludorum (Ire), all sons of Shamardal campaigned by Godolphin, are among the 77 colts entered for the May 2 G1 2000 Guineas. Other Group 1 winners engaged include the Vertem Futurity Trophy winner Kameko (Kitten's Joy) and Phoenix S. winner Siskin (GB) (First Defence), while G2 Coventry S. winner and G1 Dewhurst S. runner-up Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) is a high-class entry from the Aidan O'Brien yard. Champion 2-year-old filly Quadrilateral...