Tag Archive for: 2000 Guineas

Dettori retains full faith in Classic contender Chaldean

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While things did not go according to plan for Chaldean and Frankie Dettori at Newbury last month, the Italian still has high hopes he can ride a fourth and final Qipco 2000 Guineas winner on Saturday.

Unseated coming out of the stalls in the Greenham Stakes, Dettori admits he would far rather have finished aboard his mount, but he at least did not subject himself to a hard time and was soon caught.

In his farewell season, Dettori won the Italian 2000 Guineas for the first time on Monday and if he can claim the British version once more to add to Mark Of Esteem (1996), Island Sands (1999) and Galileo Gold (2016), he will likely raise the roof on the Rowley Mile.

To reacquaint himself with his big-race mount, Dettori went to Andrew Balding’s yard last weekend and liked what he saw.

“It wasn’t ideal what happened at Newbury, so I went to Andrew’s on Saturday for a sit on him and he seemed in good nick,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“It was one of those unfortunate things (at Newbury) – the horse next door jinked, mine jinked a bit, knocked my foot out of the iron and before I knew I was on the floor.

“I’d have rather finished the race on him than walk back, that’s for sure, but I like the horse, he’s done nothing wrong.

“He won the Dewhurst which is usually the best trial. We don’t know how he’s done between two and three but it’s the same story for all of them, that’s why the Guineas is so unpredictable, you don’t know what’s going to happen.

“He got seven furlongs no problem in the Champagne and Dewhurst, so he doesn’t have much further to go.”

Balding wary of ‘exceptional’ O’Brien pair in 2000 Guineas

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Andrew Balding believes this year’s Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket looks “above average” as he prepares Dewhurst winner Chaldean for the first Classic of the season.

With the Aidan O’Brien-trained duo of Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear heading the market, Balding admits he is in the dark as to how his colt will fair against the Ballydoyle pair, having not come up against either last term.

Auguste Rodin won the Futurity Trophy over mile and has been described as a potential Triple Crown horse by O’Brien, while Little Big Bear has never run over further than six furlongs but was stunning in winning the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last summer.

Balding has full respect for both horses ahead of Saturday’s showpiece event, saying: “I think the two of Aidan’s at the top of the market looked exceptional last year. We’ve not really got any form with them as we never raced Chaldean against either of them.

“I think there are some strong English entries, like Royal Scotsman who ran us close in the Dewhurst, so he has to be respected. It looks an above average Guineas to me.”

Balding sent Chaldean to Newbury a fortnight ago for the Greenham Stakes, but having received a bump on coming out of the stalls, Frankie Dettori was dislodged and Chaldean ran the course riderless.

Chaldean enjoys a roll in his box
Chaldean enjoys a roll in his box (Megan Ridgwell/Jockey Club)

Balding added: “We will only know on Saturday what we missed out on at Newbury and the benefits of having a run as obviously it would have been far more of a benefit for him to have had a jockey on board and have a proper race.

“At the same time, it wasn’t totally lost as he had to go through the preliminary tests of saddling, walking around the paddock and cantering down to the start, which are the extras that go with a run and not just a gallop at home.

“Thankfully he didn’t go and do another circuit loose. He was fairly sensible.

“I couldn’t be happier with him at the moment and Frankie rode him on Saturday and he worked extremely well. It was a very solid piece and his fitness levels are as good as we could hope for in the circumstances.”

With this being Dettori’s farewell season, Saturday will obviously be his final shot at 2000 Guineas glory.

The popular Italian has already won the race three times, aboard Mark Of Esteem (1996), Island Sands (1999) and Galileo Gold (2016), and Balding is pleased to have him on his side.

Andrew Balding watches Chaldean on the gallops
Andrew Balding watches Chaldean on the gallops (Megan Ridgwell/Jockey Club)

“Frankie has been, throughout my career in racing, the standout jockey. It would be wonderful if we can contribute in giving him the send-off he deserves,” said the Kingsclere handler.

“I think if you were giving him a ride in the St Leger that would be a bit more pressure as it would be his last Classic ride. We just hope we have found him something worthy enough for this occasion.

“I’m delighted we have got him, even at his age he is still an extraordinary jockey and I’m sure we won’t be lacking in assistance in the saddle. “

Auguste Rodin remains on course for Newmarket

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Auguste Rodin heads 15 colts confirmed for the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.

Aidan O’Brien’s son of Deep Impact is not only ante-post favourite for the first Classic of the season on the Rowley Mile but also heads the market for the Derby at Epsom next month, such was the impression he made as a juvenile last term.

Auguste Rodin won three of his four starts at two, rounding off the year with a dominant display in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, and looks set to make his return to action this weekend.

One of his biggest threats could come from his own yard with stablemate Little Big Bear, who has not been seen in competitive action since his brilliant victory in the Phoenix Stakes in August, also standing his ground. Cairo, meanwhile, is a potential third string for O’Brien.

Little Big Bear leads the way in the Phoenix Stakes
Little Big Bear leads the way in the Phoenix Stakes (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Speaking at the Curragh on Monday, the Ballydoyle handler confirmed his intention to saddle both Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear.

He said: “So far so good, everything has gone good so far. At the moment both are on the way, that’s the plan at the moment.”

On jockey bookings, O’Brien added: “Obviously Ryan (Moore) won’t decide that until he sees everything. I would imagine at the moment he’s going to ride Auguste, but that’s not in stone.”

The home team is headed by Chaldean, who unseated Frankie Dettori shortly after the gates opened in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury a couple of weeks ago, but has proven class and course form as the winner of last season’s Dewhurst Stakes.

Roger Varian looks set to saddle Mill Reef winner Sakheer and the Greenham runner-up Charyn, while Charlie Appleby has the unbeaten Gimcrack victor Noble Style and Breeders’ Cup second Silver Knott in the mix as he bids for back-to-back wins following the victory of Coroebus last season.

Other hopefuls include Paul and Oliver Cole’s Royal Scotsman, who was beaten a head by Chaldean in the Dewhurst, and Craven winner Indestructible – one of three possible runners for trainer Karl Burke along with Holloway Boy and Flight Plan.

French Group One winner Dubai Mile (Charlie Johnston), Galeron (Charlie Hills) and Hi Royal (Kevin Ryan) complete the acceptors.

Slipofthepen still in Guineas frame following Newmarket workout

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Slipofthepen could yet give King Charles III a Classic runner on his Coronation Day after warming up for a possible Qipco 2000 Guineas bid with a racecourse gallop at Newmarket.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt is a son of Night Of Thunder, who won the 2000 Guineas in 2014 for Richard Hannon, and has been visually impressive in winning each of his two starts to date.

The three-year-old enjoyed a leg stretch on the Rowley Mile on Thursday and retains the option of returning to the track on Saturday week, where he would carry the royal colours of the King and the Queen Consort just hours after His Majesty is officially crowned at Westminster Abbey.

Speaking after Slipofthepen’s morning gallop, John Gosden said: “He worked well and we’ll obviously make our decision over the next few days.”

Slipofthepen and James Doyle at Newmarket
Slipofthepen and James Doyle at Newmarket (Jockey Club/John Hoy/Megan Ridgwell/PA)

Slipofthepen is a best priced 20-1 to strike gold in the 2000 Guineas, a race the late Queen Elizabeth II won in 1958 with Pall Mall.

James Doyle has partnered Slipofthepen to his two Kempton triumphs and was also on board for his Thursday morning spin – and with stable jockey Frankie Dettori seemingly set to partner Chaldean in the Guineas, Godolphin-retained rider Doyle could again come in for the mount, subject to his availability.

“It depends. Frankie at the moment obviously has Chaldean, the Dewhurst winner, so we’ll just have to see,” Gosden added.

“Depending on what else runs, James may well be available. There are decisions to be made.”

Isaac Shelby puts the famous Sangster silks back in the limelight

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It may be remembered for the day Frankie Dettori and leading 2000 Guineas hope Chaldean parted company when receiving a bump at the start of the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.

Yet it was also a welcome red-letter afternoon for the famous emerald green and blue silks of the Sangster family.

While the unfortunate Chaldean was loving life at Newbury without a rider on his back, Isaac Shelby and Sean Levey made the best of it up front and, unchallenged, won in the style of a good horse.

Paddy Power were quick to react to his success, making him an 8-1 chance for glory in the Guineas in a fortnight’s time but with trainer Brian Meehan seemingly favouring the French Guineas, you can probably treble that.

As a trial, those who put their hard-earned on the winner of the Greenham for the Guineas invariably keep those dastardly bookmakers in ice cream for the summer.

Consider the facts. Wollow won the Greenham and then the Guineas in 1976. It was another 35 years before Frankel did the double. The late Sir Henry Cecil was the master trainer of those outliers who successfully completed the feat.

Indeed, the last winner of the Newmarket colts’ mile Classic to run in the Greenham was nine years ago when Night Of Thunder, Isaac Shelby’s sire, went one better than he had done at Newbury.

So Meehan, tempted though he may be to head to Newmarket, may be right to head to France.

Isaac Shelby had won the Superlative on Newmarket’s July course, a different beast to the Rowley Mile where he subsequently finished last of seven in the Dewhurst when last seen in October. Worse still, he came out of that lame.

Sam Sangster, whose father Robert’s colours were carried to Guineas triumphs by the likes of Rodrigo De Triano, Lomond and El Gran Senor, and Derby victories by The Minstrel and Golden Fleece, may feel Newmarket is not to be sniffed at.

However, he was happy for now to bask in the moment and stick to the plan.

“It was fantastic,” said Sangster, who owns him as part of the Manton Thoroughbreds VII syndicate.

“We thought a lot of him as a two-year-old and we were not surprised when he won at Newmarket.

“Something was amiss in the Dewhurst and it wasn’t back to the drawing board for us, we just kept ticking over.

“He came back so well over the winter and we took him for a little run around at Lingfield. He was on point there, but ever since then he has just been improving more and more at home, so we came here with a lot of confidence. The way he won was very, very professional.

“But that is just him out and out. He has got a wonderful mind. He is just a real professional and seems to thrive every time he runs, so we are excited about the French Guineas, that’s for sure.

“We’ll obviously keep one eye on the British Guineas, but he loved that ground there today and I just think that (ParisLongchamp) will be a nice fit.

“I don’t think he is ground dependent, but the way he went through it today would give just cause to go to France.

“We can always take the boys on at Ascot. See how we go in France and then go to Ascot.”

Isaac Shelby may have had plenty fall his way in testing ground that was always going to have his rivals toiling to reel him back.

But rider Sean Levey felt he had plenty against him and overcame the odds to score readily.

He said: “To be honest, my horse ran a blinder under circumstances that I didn’t think really suited him – the first one being the ground, secondly the loose one actually lit me up. We ran keen for far longer than I would have liked.

“I think he proved himself in the Superlative on faster ground and then disappointed thereafter.

“He has obviously done well over the winter. He needed to improve and it looks as though he has.

“I did think he’d have to improve if the Guineas was going to be his route, but you can’t help but be fairly impressed with him today.

“Brian had the French Guineas on his mind but that could change. I think we always thought Newmarket wouldn’t suit.

“He has got the horse in a good place. He is a quality animal, but it is still early doors and it is not until after the Guineas you know what real quality is.”

While Isaac Shelby will likely skip HQ, the unfortunate Chaldean remains on course to emulate his sire.

Dettori explained: “He was getting a little bit restless in the stalls and I jumped a bit slow. I was half a length behind Charlie (Bishop, aboard Streets Of Gold). He veered right and we went left.

“He took the foot out of my iron and that was it – I was on the floor. Simple as that. I didn’t have time to think.”

Chaldean may, of course, still be up to the task, but missing this crucial test will not help his cause, especially since there are just two weeks between this particular trial and the Guineas.

Take nothing away from Meehan’s winner of what looked a reasonable renewal.

He looks the part, has all but filled his powerful frame, has a good eye, a powerful back end and somewhat stood out among nine other precocious boys of summer, who have begun to strut their stuff.

Those with deep pockets and unsound minds spend millions on these wonderful creatures. Still, there is no guarantee their genes will play the winning game their profile says they should.

Bubbles will undoubtedly be burst, for some today, for others later down the line. Perhaps a fortnight later.

Now, Chaldean is a very good horse. He has a bright future and will almost certainly win other top-class races. He remains at 5-1 for the Guineas, but if Andrew Balding did not have a tough enough task on his hands with the burden of history, now a lack of a thorough prep is on Chaldean’s powerful shoulders.

Slipofthepen team in no rush to make Classic call

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Whether Slipofthepen bids for Classic glory in the colours of the King and Queen Consort on Coronation day has still to be decided.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt is as low as 12-1 in places for the Qipco 2000 Guineas, which takes place on May 6, the same day as King Charles’ Coronation to the throne.

Slipofthepen was bred by the Queen, who died in September, and is from the eighth generation of a family bred by the royal stud.

A debut winner by over five lengths at Kempton in November, he returned to the Sunbury venue to defy a penalty earlier this month.

In the aftermath of his recent victory, John Gosden mooted the St James’s Palace Stakes as a potential target.

“There are no exact plans at the moment,” said Gosden snr.

“There are two or three routes we could go but we are just going to sit on it until next week and then make decisions.”

Style set to skip Greenham date due to Newbury ground

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Noble Style is set to miss Saturday’s Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes, with trainer Charlie Appleby favouring a racecourse gallop at Newmarket over a run in soft ground at Newbury.

The Kingman colt won each of his three juvenile starts, completing his hat-trick in the Gimcrack Stakes at York before a bout of colic ruled him out of the Middle Park in the autumn.

Appleby considers Noble Style as a likely contender for the Qipco 2000 Guineas and had hoped to give him a trial run at Newbury this weekend.

However, with testing conditions forecast in Berkshire, the three-year-old looks set for a more low-key workout on the Rowley Mile, just as Coroebus did before providing Appleby with his first 2000 Guineas success last season.

“Noble Style is in great form. I made the entry for Newbury, but I might be giving that a swerve because of the conditions,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.

“It’s two weeks to the day from that race to the Guineas and the question mark over him is the trip. We saw the speed he showed when he won the Gimcrack and that form has held up. Pace is not a worry, it’s whether he will see out a mile and that is why I would have liked to have gone to the Greenham and stepped up to seven.

“But if the forecasts are right and it is going to be soft, I’ll give it a swerve and give him a racecourse gallop here and go straight into the Guineas.”

Leading fancy Statuette set to miss Guineas, reveals O’Brien

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Auguste Rodin, Little Big Bear and Meditate look likely to spearhead Aidan O’Brien’s Classic challenge this term, but leading Qipco 1000 Guineas candidate Statuette is unlikely to feature at Newmarket.

The daughter of Justify won both her juvenile starts last term but has been off the track since landing a Curragh Group in June.

She had been towards the head of the market for the first fillies’ Classic on May 7, but O’Brien feels she is doubtful to make the line-up.

He said: “Statuette has had a little bit of a hold up and I don’t think she’s going to make the Guineas. We will just go gentle and see what happens.”

Aidan O'Brien and Auguste Rodin on Monday at Ballydoyle
Aidan O’Brien and Auguste Rodin on Monday at Ballydoyle (PA)

The master of Ballydoyle holds a typically strong hand in the three-year-old division, with his two colts Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear sharing favouritism for the 2000 Guineas with many bookmakers.

Auguste Rodin signed off last term with victory in the Vertem Futurity Trophy over a mile at Doncaster, while Little Big Bear was an effortless six-length winner in the six-furlong Phoenix Stakes on his final start of the campaign at the Curragh in August.

Both took part in a post-racing gallop at the Curragh on Saturday, with O’Brien impressed by Auguste Rodin’s effort in working with sprinting candidate The Antarctic.

Speaking at a stable visit on Monday morning, O’Brien said: “We’re very happy with Auguste Rodin. What he did at the Curragh was very good, following a three-year-old sprinter. We were very happy with that.

“He was very comfortable (working with The Antarctic), we were surprised at him but he was always very classy from the first time Ryan (Moore) rode him.

“I think they are (the main two for Newmarket), then the lads will have to decide whether to let the two of them run together or split them up. They are the two that will be trained for Newmarket, that makes sense.”

Little Big Bear in action at the Curragh on Saturday
Little Big Bear in action at the Curragh on Saturday (Healy Racing)

O’Brien thinks Little Big Bear will get a mile, although he has yet to try a trip in excess of six furlongs, but Auguste Rodin is expected to sparkle over further in time.

He said: “I suppose Little Big Bear would be very comfortable and happy to go back sprinting, but I think there’s a good chance he will get a mile. He races very relaxed.

“You’d imagine Auguste Rodin will go better stretching out to a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half. He’s that type of horse (that could get any trip in time). If we have a horse that could do that, he’s definitely the one.

“We nearly didn’t run him at Doncaster on the ground. He’s an exceptional mover, a very slick, long and low mover. He’s the type of horse that could start in the Guineas and stretch out.”

Victoria Road, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, is pencilled in for the French 2000 Guineas and Derby, while Hans Andersen, Denmark, Alfred Munnings, Adelaide River and Alexandroupolis could all have Classic trial dates at some point, although Espionage is reported to have had a minor issue.

O’Brien said: “He was in full work and then he got a little bit of a shoulder and he’s only swimming, so he’s going to be held up for a little bit.”

O’Brien ranks his three-year-old colts team highly, adding: “We’ve plenty of chances there and we have two very strong Guineas horses, we have the horse for France. Little Big Bear is very classy, but they are obviously two very good colts.

“I suppose the difference in the two is Auguste Rodin could stretch right out and looking at him at the Curragh, he’s not short of pace. The other horse you would imagine would get a mile.”

Statuette might be missing her Guineas date at Newmarket, but Meditate is set to fly the flag after pleasing O’Brien in Saturday’s racecourse outing.

Placed twice in Group One company last summer, she graduated to top-level success in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Meditate at Ballydoyle on Monday
Meditate at Ballydoyle on Monday (PA)

Her trainer said: “Meditate is the one, she’s going there. She did a gentle piece at the Curragh, because she was at Tipperary a month before that and she was a little bit ouchy afterwards, so we had to be gentle with her.

“She still got to the Curragh to do her bit and she’ll do her first trot this morning, so hopefully she’s OK.

“The plan is to go straight to Newmarket with her. She’s a very professional filly, she’s not over big but she’s strong. We were very happy with her on Saturday.”

Dundalk maiden winner Beginnings could get the chance to emulate her dam, Winter, by tackling the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.

O’Brien, who also confirmed sprinting campaigns for The Antarctic and Aesop’s Fables, added: “Beginnings could go to a Guineas trial next weekend if it was nice ground, she’s fit and forward. We have had fillies from that Leopardstown trial win the Guineas, so they can step up.”

Noble Style to test Guineas aspirations in Greenham

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Gimcrack winner Noble Style is to tackle seven furlongs for the first time in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury as a trial for what trainer Charlie Appleby hopes will be a crack at the 2000 Guineas.

Appleby sees the outcome of a race over seven furlongs giving him options of whether to go up or down in trip for the unbeaten son of Kingman, a horse he describes as “going well and in great form”.

Having won on his debut at Ascot in May he was well fancied for the Coventry Stakes but an injury kept him off the track until he won at Newmarket at the end of July.

Appleby said: “He has done well from two to three and the plan is to go for the Greenham, because I didn’t want to step him up from six furlongs to a mile in the Craven.

“The seven and how he gets on will give me an indication of what we are going to be doing, whether that is dropping back to six for the Commonwealth Cup or going forward in distance to the Guineas.

“He was very impressive in the Gimcrack when he gave the impression there’s a lot of speed in that family. His maiden at Ascot is also very strong form, and he’s delighted me through the winter.”

Appleby conceded that he does not have an obvious flag bearer among his three-year-old fillies, and is hoping something may emerge in the coming weeks.

He concluded: “I have a few to run in the trials, and while there is no standout individual they have all done well and will not look out of place physically. Others will run in maidens and let’s see what transpires.”

Chaldean to prep for 2000 Guineas bid in Greenham

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Leading 2000 Guineas contender Chaldean will tune up for his tilt at the opening Classic of the season in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes next month.

Andrew Balding’s son of Frankel is the general third-favourite behind the Aidan O’Brien-trained pair of Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear for the Newmarket showpiece (May 6) on the back of an impeccable juvenile season.

Although only fifth at Newbury on debut, he soon returned to the Berkshire track to set the record straight before picking up a further three victories at two – ending the year by claiming Group One honours on the Rowley Mile in the Dewhurst Stakes in October.

Chaldean (right) ridden by Frankie Dettori on way to winning Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse
Chaldean (right) ridden by Frankie Dettori on way to winning Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse (Tim Goode/PA)

It will again be Newbury where Chaldean starts his campaign and owners Juddmonte will be hoping the super-talented colt can uphold their fine record in the seven-furlong Group Three having seen both the imperious Frankel (2011) and Kingman (2014) taste success in the renowned Guineas trial in recent times.

“I spoke to Andrew (Balding) this morning and he was very happy with him,” said Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s racing manager.

“He said he worked nicely on Saturday and all being well he is set to take his place in the Greenham and then we will see where we go from there.”

Chaldean was ridden by Frankie Dettori in his final two starts of last season and the Italian will be given the opportunity to maintain the duo’s unbeaten partnership if returning from his winter spell in California in time for one final crack at the Rowley Mile’s early-season feature.

“If Frankie comes back from America in time then he will ride him,” continued Mahon.

“When we were all in the parade ring after the Dewhurst we sort of made that agreement and the Abdullah family are happy to stick by it. So as long as he doesn’t get a ride in the Kentucky Derby, I’m sure he will be back to ride him.

Frankie Dettori performs a flying dismount after winning the Darley Dewhurst Stakes on Chaldean at Newmarket
Frankie Dettori performs a flying dismount after winning the Darley Dewhurst Stakes on Chaldean at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

“It would be great as he has been such a phenomenal man for the sport. He’s been one of the best jockeys in the world for the past 20 years so it would be great to see him going out on a high and getting a few Group One winners during his last summer.”

Sir Michael Stoute’s Nostrum is another high-class prospect in the famous pink and green silks of Juddmonte for connections to get excited about as the Flat turf season draws ever near.

Only seen three times last term, the Kingman colt was a taking winner of the Tattersalls Stakes over the 2000 Guineas course and distance in September before his inexperience cost him when third behind Chaldean over a furlong less in the Dewhurst.

The likeable bay holds entries in the Newmarket, Irish and French Guineas and Mahon suggest he could make his reappearance in one of those, sure to be, red-hot assignments.

“Michael is very happy with Nostrum, he’s ticking along nicely,” added Mahon.

“He hasn’t really set any targets for him yet and I don’t think he will run in a trial. He could go straight to a Guineas, but we haven’t decided which one yet.”