The Trials are under way for the first
classics of the 2015 flat racing season. John Gosden’s Faydhan
flopped in the Free Handicap this week while there were victories for
Kool Kompany and Osaila in the Craven and the Nell Gwyn Stakes
respectively. Here is an update on the current
market leaders.
1000 Guineas
Aidan O’Brien’s Found is a strong
favourite for the 1000 Guineas on the strength of her impressive
victory in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac last October.
She quickened to beat Ervedya and Jack
Naylor decisively and the form has since been boosted by the
runner-up. Ervedya won the Group 3 Prix Impudence in very soft ground
and is likely to head to Newmarket for His Highness The Aga Khan. She
handles the ground so well that day that there must be a slight
concern that she will struggle on a faster surface.
Found had beaten her stable companion
Together Forever at the Curragh
on her debut before finishing third to Cursory Glance in the
Moyglare. That race was on good to firm ground over seven furlongs
with the pair separated by Lucida. Together Forever went on to win
the Group 1 Dubai Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket and is also on course
for the Guineas. Richard Hannon’s Osaila was just edged out of
fourth place on the line. She won the Nell Gwyn Stakes by a
short-head from the persistent New Providence on her seasonal
reappearance.
Beautiful Romance ran on well to finish
third and is currently thought most likely to lead the Godolphin
challenge. That was only her second start having won her maiden at
Doncaster by nine lengths last October. She is trained by Saeed bin
Suroor who also has brilliant UAE Guineas and Oaks winner Local Time
entered in the race.
Veteran trainer Barry Hills has elected
to go straight to the Guineas with Salisbury maiden winner Fadhayyil,
runner-up to Lucida in the Rockfel Stakes. She enjoyed a racecourse
gallop at the Craven meeting, the same preparation that was employed
successfully with Ghanaati in 2009.
Richard Hannon could also have a second
string to his bow with Tiggy
Wiggy. She was a brilliant two-year-old but is not guaranteed to
get a mile. She runs in the Fred Darling Stakes over seven furlongs,
after which a decision will be made about the Guineas.
Latest odds (16.04.15) 5-2 Found, 9-1
Together Forever, 10-1 Ervedya, 12-1 Lucida, Osaila, 14-1 Fadhayyil,
16-1 Beautiful Romance, Malabar, 20-1 bar
2000 Guineas
Ballydoyle also dominate the market for
the 2000 Guineas, despite the eclipse of John F Kennedy in his trial.
The hot favourite is Gleneagles, the winner of the Grand Criterium at
Longchamp, although later disqualified and placed third.
That was the fifth consecutive race in
which the son of Galileo had passed the post in front. He had been
particularly impressive when winning the seven-furlong National
Stakes at the Curragh. Not unlike Australia last year, the horse has
been the subject of heavy ante-post support this spring with his
price crashing from 10-1 in early March to around 5-2.
He could be joined in the race by
stable companion Highland
Reel, another progressive son of Galileo. He won a minor race at
Gowran Park by eight lengths in July and followed up by winning the
Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.
Richard Hannon’s Ivawood suffered his
first defeat when beaten by Charming Thought in the Middle Park in
October and bids to redeem his reputation in the Greenham Stakes at
Newbury. He will be joined in the field by stable companion
Estidkhaar, a disappointing favourite in the Dewhurst. That race was
won by Belardo in a first-time hood and he will also make his
reappearance at Newbury for new owners, Godolphin.
Racing Post Trophy winner Elm Park will
go straight to the 2000 Guineas, although he is widely regarded as a
Derby prospect. His victories at Newmarket and Doncaster are more
often responsible for producing Epsom contenders but Balding is
convinced that he has the speed to be competitive in the first colt’s
classic. He has won on all types of ground but any ease in the going
would probably be in his favour.
One of the earliest classic trials was
at Leopardstown where Zawraq emerged an impressive winner for Dermot
Weld. The son of Shamardal is out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and
connections believe he will definitely make a Derby colt. A final
decision on his participation at Newmarket is yet to be made.
Golden Horn earned quotes of 16-1 after
winning the Feilden Stakes at the Craven meeting for John Gosden.
However, his future looks likely to be over middle distances with the
Dante Stakes or the French Derby mooted as possible targets.
The Guineas could also receive the
added interest of an American raider in the form of Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile winner Hootenanny. Trainer Wesley Ward brought him over to
win at Royal Ascot as a two-year-old and he could run at Newmarket
if he impresses at Keeneland in his trial.
Latest odds (16.04.15) 9-4 Gleneagles,
9-2 Ivawood, 8-1 Highland Reel, 12-1 Zawraq, 14-1 Elm Park, Flaming
Spear, Ol Man River, 16-1 Golden Horn, Belardo 20-1 bar
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