2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas Classic History
The 2000 Guineas, now sponsored by Quipco, was first run in 1809. It’s name relates to the original purse and it pre-dates the 1000 Guineas, for fillies only, by five years.
Along with 1000 Guineas a day later, the 2000 Guineas is run over Newmarket’s Rowley Mile and is the first of the five English Classics, all restricted to three-year-olds – the others being the Derby and Oaks, both over 1m4f at Epsom in early June, plus the extended 1m7f St Leger, which takes place at Doncaster in September. It is also the first leg of the British Triple Crown.
Sir Charles Bunbury, who played an important role in the development of British racing including overseeing the extension of the Jockey Club’s authority, was inspired to introduce the two youngest Classics with the first race being won by Wizard, who gained £1,522 for his connections, This year’s Qipco 2000 Guineas now has a prize fund of £400,000.
The 2000 Guineas is still a good trial for next month’s Derby but no longer the best. Smolensko, appropriately owned by Sir Charles Bunbury, was the first horse to complete the double when landing both Classics in 1813. Since then, 36 other colts have completed the double, the most recent being Camelot in 2012.
In contrast, the 1000 Guineas tends to produce specialist milers nowadays, though several fillies have completed the Guineas/Oaks double in the last 50 years including Minding as recently as last year.
Aidan O’Brien has won the 2000 Guineas on seven previous occasions but his odds-on favourite only beat one home last year and the first English classic has thrown up its fair share of shock results in recent years alongside expected victories for the likes of Frankel, Dawn Approach and Camelot. Six of the last 10 winners started at 8/1 or bigger but the previous year’s Dewhurst Stakes, run over 7f on the Rowley Mile, is probably still the best trial.
Churchill was beaten on his debut last year but then reeled off five victories on the spin, including the Dewhurst here in October. He beat stablemate Lancaster Bomber and the latter ran well in Dubai on his reappearance. Third Blue Point won a Group 3 at Ascot earlier this week so the support for the O’Brien colt is understandable but the 6/4 with Skybet looks plenty short enough.
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Al Wukair looks a danger to Churchill as the French colt made it three from three when landing the odds in a Group 3 at Maisons-Lafitte last month – Andre Fabre’s raider shouldn’t be underestimated. Barney Roy easily beat Dream Castle in the Greenham at Newbury and is Godolphin’s best hope of a first success since Night On Thunder in 2014. Richard Hannon trained the latter as well so should know how his charge compares.
Martyn Meade is not a trainer normally associated with Classic winners but, in EMINENT, he could have a star on his hands. The Frankel colt powered clear of Racing Post Trophy winner Rivet in the Craven Stakes on the Rowley Mile last month, delighting his trainer and jockey Jim Crowley in the process. He looks an each-way bet to nothing at the general 5/1.
Qipco 2000 Guineas Current Best Odds
Churchill (6/4), Barney Roy (4/1), Al Wukair (9/2), Eminent (5/1), Dream Castle (16/1), Lancaster Bomber (33/1), Larchmont Lad (40/1), Spirit Of Valor and Top Score (80/1), Law And Order (100/1)
Aidan O’Brien’s record in the Qipco 1000 Guineas, another race in the British Champions Series, is equally impressive with the maestro of Ballydoyle having sent out three of the last 12 winners.
Like the 2000 Guineas, the fillies’ Classic has also thrown up its share of shock results since the turn of the century but a couple of trends are worth noting. All recent winners had run at least twice as a two-year-old and most had also won at least twice. Winning form over at least 7f is also important and not many win the 1000 Guineas without having won a Listed race at the very least.
Qipco 1000 Guineas Current Best Odds
Rhododendron (2/1), Fair Eva (6/1), Daban (13/2), Winter (8/1), Talaayeb (12/1), Hydrangea (14/1), Intricately (16/1), Poet’s Vanity (20/1), Unforgetable Filly (28/1), Queen Kindly (33/1), Urban Fox (40/1), Kilmah (50/1), Ce La Vie and Dream Start (100/1)
RHODODENDRON fits all the normal criteria having beaten stablemate Hydrangea and Urban Fox in the Fillies’ Mile here on Champions Day in October. She can reverse earlier running with Intricately at the Curragh and is entered in all the top fillies’ races this year. The daughter of Galileo can still be backed at 2/1 on Betfair. Fair Eva, a daughter of Frankel, was beaten at odds-on in the Rockfel Stakes on her final start last year but she will almost certainly be suited by the step up to a mile and is a viable alternative at the general 6/1.
