Frankel heads Two Thousand Guineas field; Master of Hounds
still engaged
The unbeaten Henry Cecil-trained FRANKEL (Galileo [Ire]) is set to be the
hottest favorite for Saturday’s Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) since Nijinsky II won the Newmarket
classic
at 4-7 odds 41 years ago.
Frankel, plus his pacemaker REROUTED (Stormy Atlantic), are the among the 15 horses confirmed at
Monday’s five-day stage for the first British classic of the season over the
Rowley Mile.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has left three horses in the Guineas, including MASTER
OF HOUNDS (Kingmambo), who is reportedly bound for the May 7 Kentucky Derby
(G1).
Presumably O’Brien’s principal Guineas contender is RODERIC O’CONNOR (Galileo
[Ire]), runner-up to Frankel in the Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket last fall
and subsequently victorious in the Criterium International (Fr-G1). Rounding out
the Ballydoyle eligibles is ALEXANDER POPE (Danehill Dancer).
Frankel, owned and bred by Khalid Abdulla, shared the accolade of being the
champion European two-year-old of 2010 after his excellent Dewhurst win in October.
The colt impressed on his seasonal return in the Greenham S. (Eng-G3) at Newbury earlier this month and will be his
trainer’s first runner in the classic since 2000. Cecil seeks his third
triumph in the Two Thousand Guineas, following on from Bolkonski (1975) and Wollow
(1976).
In addition to the O’Brien possibles, Frankel’s main challengers are set to be
PATHFORK (Distorted Humor), also unbeaten and trained in
Ireland by Jessica Harrington, and the Ed Dunlop-trained NATIVE KHAN (Azamour
[Ire]), who landed the Craven S. (Eng-G3) over the course and distance at Newmarket on
April 14.
Godolphin could have two runners, Racing Post
Trophy (Eng-G1) hero CASAMENTO (Shamardal), who is handled by in-form Mahmood al Zarooni, and the Saeed
bin Suroor-trained Champagne S. (Eng-G2) victor SAAMIDD (Street Cry [Ire]).
Eoghan O’Neill, who trains in France, has left in BROOX (Xaar), fourth to Dream Ahead
(Diktat) in the Prix Morny (Fr-G1) in August, while FURY (Invincible Spirit) is unbeaten in two
starts for trainer William Haggas, the latest of which came in the £500,000
Tattersalls Millions Two-Year-Old Trophy on the Rowley Mile in October.
The Richard Hannon-trained DUBAWI GOLD (Dubawi) has landed a pair of listed races this
year, while the others still engaged are HAPPY TODAY (Gone West), LOVING SPIRIT
(Azamour [Ire]) and SLIM SHADEY (Val Royal [Fr]).
The final field will be set Thursday.
The going at Newmarket was reported good to firm (good in places) Monday,
with watering on tap as necessary.
The stands’ side course will be utilized for the Guineas Festival.
Newmarket’s Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing Michael Prosser
commented on the ground.
“We put 15 millimeters of water on the course during Friday and
Saturday, cut the grass today and will resume watering tomorrow, with another 15
millimeters planned to go down by Wednesday.
“The temperatures will be cooler from tomorrow until Thursday,” Prosser
added, “when some rain is
forecast in the evening, and then there could be a shower or two on Friday.
“Temperatures are set to pick up again for the QIPCO Guineas Festival on
Saturday and Sunday. We will reassess the ground towards the end of the week and
see whether we need to water again.”