Wednesday, 20 April 2011

2000 Guineas Update


The presence of the mighty Frankel has seen the number of possibles for the Qipco 2000 Guineas whittle away from 52 to 19 at the latest acceptance stage.

Among the expected withdrawals were Wootton Bassett, Dubai Prince, Zoffany and Strong Suit.

The latter was well behind Frankel in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday as the Henry Cecil-trained colt made an authoritative return to action.

Zoffany's trainer Aidan O'Brien still has a leading contender in Roderic O'Connor, who was runner-up to Frankel in the Dewhurst Stakes before winning the Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.


Master Of Hounds and Alexander Pope are other Ballydoyle entries while Strong Suit's trainer Richard Hannon has just Dubawi Gold left in the Newmarket Classic on Saturday week.

Pick of the opposition looks to be Jessica Harrington's Pathfork, the Godolphin-owned Casamento, David Simcock's Dream Ahead, William Haggas' Fury and the Ed Dunlop-trained Native Khan, winner of the Craven Stakes over the Classic course and distance last week.

Harrington reported the unbeaten Pathfork to be firmly on course for Newmarket.


The County Kildare trainer told the Daily Telegraph: "Everything's fine with Pathfork.

"He has a couple of bits of work to do then we will ship him over next Wednesday. I'm happy with him, he's developed well over the winter. Everything's worked out well so far."