QIPCO 2000 Guineas

NEWMARKET, UK -- They came for a coronation and perhaps, when we look back at the end of the season, that's what those packed into the stands and around Newmarket's vast parade ring will have seen. The crown now just rests on a different head to the one we were expecting.  Those who don't appreciate the blustery open swathes of the Rowley Mile are quick to knock the course, but over that same strip last October there had been a truly stellar performance in the Dewhurst by City Of Troy...

The entries for the first two Classics of the season have been released, with 49 horses entered in each of the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and Qipco 1,000 Guineas. The colts will line up at Newmarket on Saturday, May 4 when it is likely that much of the attention will focus on the unbeaten City Of Troy (Justify), who at this stage is the ante-post favourite for the 2,000 Guineas. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, he has left Ireland for two of his three starts to win the G2 Superlative S. at...

Monday's email bulletin from the The New York Times told us that Britain is largely apathetic about Saturday's coronation. I guess they'd know, being on the other side of the Atlantic and all, but the bunting had already been strung through various Cambridgeshire and Suffolk villages by Sunday. In the leafy shires at least, the monarchists still hold sway. On Friday at Newmarket, the King Charles II Stakes will be run in honour of the 'Merry Monarch' whose patronage made the Suffolk town famous around the world as an important...

NEWMARKET, UK--With three Godolphin Classic winners having already taken to the Rowley Mile this week in early-morning gallops, on Thursday it was the turn of the Classic hopes. GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and G2 Gimcrack S. winner Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) are both under consideration for QIPCO 2,000 Guineas in just over a fortnight's time and they stretched out over seven furlongs in a serious piece of work under James Doyle and William Buick respectively. Noble Style, not seen on...

Dual Derby-winning trainer Charlie Appleby came close to winning last year's QIPCO 2000 Guineas when Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was narrowly beaten by Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), and his Godolphin stable appears to hold two aces for the opening Classic of the British season. G3 Craven S. winner Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) are currently first and second favourites for the 2000 Guineas ahead of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). "William [Buick] sat on Native Trail on...

On a day of three 100-point prep races for the GI Kentucky Derby, it was TIZ THE BOMB (c, 3, Hit It a Bomb--Tiz the Key, by Tiznow)--a colt not officially pointing to the Derby--who won Saturday's GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park to snag one of those coveted 100-point slots. Drifting from 6-5 out to 8-5, but still clearly favored as the gates flew in, Tiz the Bomb had a smooth break and sat a midfield trip on the outside through fractions of :23.25 and :47.06. Breathing menacingly...

The entries for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and QIPCO 1000 Guineas closed on Tuesday, with 56 colts engaged in the first major European Classic of the season at this stage. Of the 51 fillies entered for the 1000 Guineas a day later on May 1, three are based at Simon and Ed Crisford's Gainsborough Stables in Newmarket, including Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), whose breeders Newtown Stud and Tim Pabst received the ITBA Award for the leading 2-year-old filly on Sunday night. After making almost all in September's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley...

Godolphin's One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was seen in action on the Rowley Mile on Wednesday, not in a formal Classic trial but in a racecourse gallop with stable-mate Well Of Wisdom (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The winner of the G3 Emirates Autumn S. and runner-up to Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in the G1 Vertem Futurity, One Ruler was ridden by former champion jockey Kieren Fallon. He is generally around 10/1 for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas on May 1 and also holds entries for the Cazoo Derby and...