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It’s Classic time on both sides of the Atlantic this weekend. While the Kentucky Derby will undoubtedly be the main event for the vast majority of ITM readers, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas at Newmarket should serve as more than adequate appetisers prior to the Run for the Roses.
Before we get to those, let’s go off in a completely different direction. The Punchestown Festival has been underway all week with the best jumping talent aiming to land a Grade 1 prize before some much deserved rest over the summer. Two top-level races remain on Saturday, with the redoubtable Wodhooh looking to make it 11 wins from 12 starts over obstacles in the Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (16:15). Her only defeat under this code came behind Champion Hurdler Lossiemouth, and this granite mare should uphold Cheltenham form with Jade De Grurgy.
The Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle follows at 16:55 and sees several of those who contested the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham reoppose. Apolo De Charnie defied his inexperience to score in that contest and with natural improvement should be very hard to beat. Cheltenham handicap winner Saratoga should run a good race and his ownermate, Proactif, is better than he was able to show at Cheltenham where he finished ninth in the Triumph. He had thrashed Apolo De Charnie at Auteil last September and was a game winner last time.
Back to the flat now and at the other end of the distance scale we have the Palace House Stakes (14:55). This is a wide open event as evidenced by the betting and the most intriguing aspect of this race is the stable switch for Asfoora who has joined Lemos De Souza. The De Souza yard strikes at just 8% overall and has yet to have a runner in a Stakes race in the UK, so it’s quite surprising to see this multiple Group 1 winner in his barn. The ex-Australian mare is around 35lbs superior to any horse he has trained previously and it’ll be interesting to see how she gets on here.
Elsewhere on Saturday, the Thirsk Hunt Cup (14:40) has been won by some good horses such as subsequent Champion Stakes winner Farhh in the past, although there doesn’t seem to be anything of his potential in the lineup here.
Over at Goodwood, Sun Chariot runner-up Blue Bolt is favoured to land the Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes (14:05) on her seasonal bow. She has Shes Perfect – who was first past the post in the French Guineas last year before being disqualified – to beat here. She was last seen finishing down the field behind F&M Turf winner Gezora in the French Oaks last June.
Speaking of the F&M Turf, there’s also a link in the Pretty Polly Stakes (13:45) at Newmarket on Sunday at Lilt looks to defend her unbeaten record. This daughter of 2013 F&M Turf heroine Dank looks a horse with big potential and she should serve it up to likely favourite Esna.
Cathedral – fourth in (you’ve guessed it) the F&M Turf last year – heads the market for the Dahlia Stakes (14:20) having finished a place in front of Survie on synthetics at Kempton last time. That form doesn’t look bombproof by any means and maybe Falakeyah can revive on a track where she looked so good at the start of last season.
The highlight of Sunday is the 1000 Guineas (15:35) where Precise goes to post a warm favourite having proved herself right out of the top drawer last season. A course and distance winner, she sets a very high standard and should take some beating for the Aidan O’Brien yard. He also has True Love, who has the benefit of a run behind her, while My Highness has a similar profile to Miss France, who won this for the yard in 2014.
Perhaps the most interesting runner is Abashiri, who was incredibly impressive on debut and is bred to be top class, being by Frankel out of a French Group 1 winner.
Race Of The Weekend
The 2000 Guineas (15:35) looks a cracking renewal with Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf winner Gstaad heading the betting. This sizeable colt should have improved plenty for a winter on his back and has a few pounds in hand on ratings.
The unbeaten Bow Echo has been something of a talking horse this winter and gives young Billy Loughnane a real shot at a first Classic winner.
Godolphin have a trio of entries with the unbeaten King’s Trail looking the most fascinating, while trial winner Oxagon looks to have improved plenty over the winter. Thesecretadversary is a horse I like and he could go well at big odds.
Horse To Watch
Havana Anna bombed out in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar last season but this Group 1 placed sprinter should make a winning return in the Polonia Stakes (15:05) at Cork this aSunday.
