THE ENGLISH 2000 GUINEAS

The English 2000 Guineas is fascinating even though two of last season’s better two year olds, Johannesburg and Dubai Destination, give it a miss.

Aiden O’Brien won this race in 1998 with King of Kings and was second with Giants Causeway in 2000. His Woodman colt, Hawk Wing, has been thought to be the winner of this race ever since he won the National Stakes. Touted as a possible Triple Crown winner by O’Brien, Hawk Wing defeated high class Naheef with subsequent group 1 winner Sholokhov in third. Hyped as the best of the Ballydoyle hopes, the colt will have to go to beat his talented stablemates.

Rock of Gibraltar was the toughest and most consistent two year old colt last year. The son of Danehill won four group races, two group ones.

 He was most impressive when thrashing a weak field in the Grand Criterium and followed that up when winning the Dewhurst from stablemates Landseer and Tendulkar. Although not as hyped as his stablemate, this game and classy colt should not be overlooked.

Yet another from Ballydoyle is the inexposed, Tendulkar. The son of exciting sire, Spinning World, ran just twice last year. He won his debut and following a long lay off, ran a rather unlucky third in the Dewhurst, beaten two heads by experienced Rock of Gibraltar. If he can overcome his lack of experience, Tendulkar can give his more proven stablemates a run for their money.

Sir Michael Stoute is looking for his third consecutive 2000 Guineas win and fifth in all with Craven winner King of Happiness. Another son of outstanding miler, Spinning World, King of Happiness looked promising last year when winning his only start and confirmed that by winning the Craven Stakes - the same race won by previous Stoute Guineas winners, Shadeed and Doyoun and the race where his King’s Best was second.

The one concern is the lack of class the colt has faced but is obviously improving and come the big day, King of Happiness may well find the extra needed.

Godolphin have suffered with the death of champion Tempera and will be looking for consolation with talented Naheef. The well bred son of Marju won his trial in Dubai by six lengths and despite being beaten by Hawk Wing, should run well. Winner of the Champagne Vintage Stakes last year, Naheef will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who gets off Kentucky Derby fancy Essence of Dubai, to ride him.

Andre Fabre has had plenty of success when riding in Britain and has won the 2000 Guineas twice - with Zafonic in 1993 and Pennekamp in 1995. His Massalani won the Prix Djebel-won by Pennekamp- from talented Zipping, the colt who played second fiddle to Johannesburg much of last season. The son of French 2000 Guineas hero Ashkalani, is quiet fancy to run well here and is unbeaten. Like King of Happiness, he has not faced this standard of competition.

Mark Johnston has a good record in this race, Mister Baileys won in 1994, Bijou D’Inde was third in 1996 and Lend A Hand finished second in 1998. His once raced Storm Bird colt, Love Regardless, has been well talked about following a good gallop and looks highly exciting. Despite never having faced this level before, the colt looks to have room for improvement and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Redback’s sire, Mark of Esteem, was the best Guineas winner of the last ten years and has been underrated throughout his career. An impressive winner of the Greenham Stakes, his trainer Richard Hannon, has won the race twice with Don’t Forget Me (1987) and Tirol (1990), and was second last year with Tamburlaine. Redback quite possibly is the best value in the race, and while he doesn’t seem to have the class of Hawk Wing amongst others, is too game to leave out.

Others to bear in mind include Zafonic’s son Zipping, the well bred Meshaheer (touted throughout the winter but disappointing in his trial) and Horris Hill winner Rapscallion.

SELECTION:

1. Hawk Wing
2. Tendulkar
3. King of Happiness

THE ENGLISH 1000 GUINEAS

The English 1000 Guineas looks to be a match race between the best two year old fillies of last in Queen’s Logic and Gossamer.

Mick Channon and Stephen Drowne are looking to win their first English classic and Queen’s Logic looks a good bet to give them that. The daughter of Grand Lodge was brilliant in the Cheveley Park Stakes last year when winning by seven lengths over classy and subsequent group three winner, Sophisticat. The champion two year old filly looked to have broken a sequence of disappointing Cheveley Park winners when cruising home in the Fred Darling last month. The chestnut has the class to make her a formidable nut for her opponents to crack.

Should Gossamer run, it will be a fascinating contest. Barathea’s talented little sister was dazzling when winning her three starts last year. The little bay filly was impressive when winning the Fillies Mile in heavy going from useful Maryinsky. Luca Cumani trains her and will be looking for a change in his fortune. She has all the class needed to win a classic but is unfortunate to be in the same year as Queen’s Logic.

Quarter Moon is another daughter of Sadler’s Wells and broke her maiden in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes. She was impressive then, beating Sophisticat, but hasn’t run since and is difficult to know what to make of her. Aiden O’Brien has never won this race but as good as Quarter Moon looks, (she is a close relative of Alborada) she may struggle against Queen’s Logic and Gossamer.

O’Brien has two other decent runners in the race in the form of Lahinch and the superbly bred Maryinsky. Lahinch was well beaten  by Queen’s Logic in the Cheveley Park but the daughter of Danehill Dancer won her trial in Ireland impressively and looks to have improved. Yet another daughter of Sadler’s Wells, whose Salsabil won in 1990, Maryinsky is out of Kentucky Oaks winner Blush With Pride and is from the outstanding Best In Show family. She was a well beaten second to Gossamer in the Fillies Mile but should not that rival run, Maryinsky should be considered.

Misterah won an average running of the Nell Gwyn Stakes last month and is game and of consistent sort. The daughter of classic flop, Alhaarth, is just off the top drawer.

SELECTION:

1. Queen’s Logic
2. Gossamer?/Sophisticat
3. Lahinch