BetVictor are currently the only bookmaker offering place betting down to fourth place in the Qipco 2000 Guineas and they are currently among those still offering 5/1 about the much-touted Mazar, winner of the Craven Stakes, in the first Classic of 2018.
2000 Guineas History
The 2000 Guineas, now sponsored by Qipco, 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 is worth more than £283,000 to winning connections.
The 2000 Guineas is still a good trial for next month’s Derby but probably 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. Last year’s winner, Churchill, won the Irish 2000 Guineas a few weeks later but failed to add further successes.
Aidan O’Brien has won the 2000 Guineas on eight previous occasions but it’s not always the stable’s first string that comes out on top. The first English classic has thrown up its fair share of shock results in recent years with half of the last 12 winners starting at 8/1 or bigger. The previous year’s Dewhurst Stakes, run over 7f on the Rowley Mile, is probably still the best trial ahead of the Craven Stakes run at Newmarket in April.
Qipco 2000 Guineas Current Best Odds
Gustav Klimt 5/2, Masar 5/1, Elarqam and Saxon Warrior 6/1, Expert Eye 12/1, Roaring Lion 16/1, James Garfield 20/1, Headway and Tip Two Win 33/1, Rajasinghe, Murillo and Raid 50/1, Nebo 66/1, Cardsharp 100/1
The annual Ballydoyle conundrum this year features three runners. Punters have fallen in line with Seamie Heffernan’s choice Gustav Klimst after he beat two stable companions and the in-form Imaging in a trial at Leopardstown. He beat Nebo in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket last July and his breeding suggests he will also be best at around a mile you can understand why he’s the general 5/2 favourite, though will need to improve again to overtake Donnacha O’Brien’s mount SAXON WARRIOR (6/1 with Ladbrokes).
His trainer has been untypically bullish about the potential of the son of Deep Impact, who is reported to have strengthened up over the winter. He was already an imposing type and, though the Racing Post Trophy he won at Doncaster in the autumn has not been a great trial for the 2000 Guineas in the past, wins in both races is not unprecedented, though Roaring Lion’s run behind Masar in the Craven Stakes let the form down.
Elarqam is also unbeaten and defeated Tip Two Win in a Group 3 at York last year. He is a best 6/1 with Betbright to give Mark Johnston a first winner in the race since 1994. James Garfield beat Expert Eye (12/1 with Betbright) and Raid in winning last month’s Greenham Stakes at Newbury and may be overpriced at a general 20/1 but there are concerns about the step back up to a mile.
