Last year the 2,000 Guineas signalled the emergence of Frankel as a world-beater. Although there may not be a star to rival the Sir Henry Cecil trained colt in this year’s line-up Aidan O’Brien’s Camelot arrives with a tall reputation and he’ll be accompanied by his stable companion Maybe, currently a hot favourite for the filly’s equivalent, the 1,000 Guineas.
Aidan O’ Brien’s Camelot set tongues wagging when hacking up in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on only his second outing last season. A son of Montjeu, he looks more suited to the Derby trip on stamina grounds, so it looks a bit of a head scratcher running him the Guineas, especially when one recalls St Nicholas Abbey, who took a similar path and took an age to recover. The soft ground should aid his chances, but at the prices, he has to be overlooked.
His stable mate Power looks to have a live chance, given his form from last year when he was a model of consistency at Group level. He won the National Stakes at The Curragh and the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, but his win over Dragon Pulse on soft at The Curragh is the best piece of form. He has a chance at bigger prices.
Richard Hannon has two horses in Trumpet Major and Bronterre, but I think they have a bit to find on various form-lines. Top Offer has only run once, in a maiden, and cannot be backed from a form perspective.
Abtaal won impressively over a mile against French Fifteen last year, running his prep very much as a trial and he should come along a lot for the race. Another horse from respected connections is Born to Sea for the John Oxx yard; a trainer that rarely has a runner in the UK if not feeling the horse has an excellent chance. A half brother to Galileo and Sea The Stars , this horse just oozes class. He won a listed race on his debut, highlighting his promise, before running second to O’Brien’s Nephrite when apparently wrong. By Invincible Spirit, this should be his ideal trip and, given the trainers 29% strike rate with runners in this country in the last decade, carries maximum respect.
While the 2,000 Guineas looks relatively open I don’t think the same can be said for the 1000 Guineas. There are many pretenders, including the Godolphin pair of Discourse and Lyric of Light, last years two year olds La Collina and Lightening Pearl, and recent trial winner Moonstone Magic. However, Aidan O’Brien’s MAYBE has beaten them all, and comfortably too. The way she travelled and ran on in her recent spin around The Curragh for Aidan O’Brien showed she has filled out and still looks the part. She is a banker!
Newmarket Saturday
2000 Guineas – Born to Sea & Abtaal
Newmarket Sunday
1000 Guineas – Maybe (Nap)
The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner
@JJMSports on Twitter
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