The Freddie Head-trained Ride Like the Wind (Lope de Vega) was one of 34
entries remaining in the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) at Wednesday’s
declaration stage for the May 2 classic, and the Olivier Thomas silkbearer has
his conditioner comparing him to Charm Spirit, who was Head’s first Guineas
entrant last year, finishing fifth in that vintage renewal before going on to
win three Group 1s.
“He is on the same sort of level as Charm Spirit was at this time last year,”
Head said. “They are similar horses in that they tend to be a bit keen and if
Ride Like the Wind settles better than Charm Spirit did last year, I think that
he has a good chance.”
Ride Like The Wind, a grandson of triple Grade 1-winning mare Kostroma bred
by S F Bloodstock, broke his maiden at first-asking last July but failed to
shine at the pattern level, finishing fourth in the Prix de Cabourg (Fr-G3) and
sixth in the Prix Morny (Fr-G1) at Deauville before rounding out his season with
a second in conditions company at Longchamp in September. He filled the same
slot in a Polytrack conditions race at Deauville on March 6 and won the Prix
Djebel (Fr-G3) April 2. Head said he has given his charge two runs, “to get the
freshness out of him before the Guineas.”
“I was very happy with his Prix Djebel victory,” Head added. “He settled then
quickened well and it was to his credit that he won despite being held up at the
back of the field when the pace was slow. The undulations at Newmarket won’t be
a problem for him and although seven furlongs is a good trip for him at the
moment, I think that he will stay a mile as long as he relaxes and gets a good
run. He needs good or good-to-firm ground.”
Ride Like the Wind currently sits at 40-1 for the Guineas, and his 33
possible rivals include current market leaders Gleneagles (Galileo) and his
Ballydoyle stable companion Highland Reel (Galileo) as well as dual Group 2
winner and last week’s Greenham S. (Eng-G3) second Estidhkaar (Dark Angel).
Trainer Jim Bolger will be hoping his Rockfel S. (Eng-G2) scorer Lucida (Shamardal),
who was one of 25 fillies remaining in the May 3 One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1)
at Wednesday’s declaration stage, will continue to follow the path of his
previous winner of that classic, Finsceal Beo, who closed out her juvenile
campaign with a Rockfel score, having previously taken the Prix Marcel Boussac
(Fr-G1). She won the Guineas first-up without a prep and Godolphin colorbearer
Lucida will attempt to do the same.
“We have decided to send her there without another run as I wanted to follow
the same route as I did with Finsceal Beo,” Bolger confirmed. “It is difficult
to compare the two as they are different types of fillies and Finsceal Beo had
already won a Group 1 in Paris by this stage, but Lucida’s performance was good
when she won the Rockfel.”
All the top contenders remained engaged in the Guineas Wednesday, including
Ballydoyle stablemates Found (Galileo) and Together Forever (Galileo), the top
two betting choices at 5-2 and 10-1, respectively. Lucida is one of three at
12-1 in addition to Prix Imprudence (Fr-G3) winner Ervedya (Siyouni) and Rockfel
second Fadhayyil (Tamayuz).
Sympathy (Henrythenavigator), an eye-catching maiden winner at Leicester in
October, has been ruled out of the One Thousand Guineas and will instead prepare
for later-season targets.
A statement on the Highclere website read, “(Sympathy) has been in season and
is still shedding her winter coat, so rather than pushing her to be ready
(trainer) Sir Michael Stoute has sensibly made the decision to wait until the
filly tells him she is ready. Sympathy holds some exciting entries for later in
the season.”
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com