The 2000 Guineas, the first Classic of the British Flat racing season, is now just a day away, set to take place on Newmarket’s iconic Rowley Mile on May 3.
While last season’s standout two-year-olds, such as Twain and Shadow Of Light, continue to dominate the horse racing tips, a number of emerging contenders have thrust themselves into the spotlight with impressive early-season performances on the all-weather.
Race fitness proved a crucial factor last year when Charlie Appleby and Godolphin’s Notable Speech used a hat-trick of wins at Kempton Park as the springboard to Guineas glory.
This year, all eyes will be on whether any of the campaigners following a similar route can replicate that success—transferring their synthetic success or early-season wins onto the famous Rowley Mile stage come May.
Cosmic Year – 8/1
Cosmic Year blasted into contention for Classic glory when making a stunning reappearance under Oisin Murphy for Harry Charlton recently.
A turf winner on debut at Sandown back in September, beating Rock d’Oro in a six-and-a-half length romp, expectations were high for Cosmic Year on his seasonal reappearance at Kempton.
The Juddmonte son of Kingman didn’t disappoint either, hitting the front hard in the final furlong to impressively beat Hit Squad by five lengths.
That rocketed Cosmic Year into 8/1 for the Guineas, but Charlton has stated that the Guineas isn’t a certainty if the ground stays quick in the coming days.
Ruling Court – 11/1
Another Sandown debutant scorer, Ruling Court beat Pantile Warrior by over five lengths in a maiden last July, but was beaten by The Lion In Winter when third in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York.
The three-year-old got back to winning ways in the Listed Jumeirah 2000 Guineas at Meydan in March, beating The Fingal Raven by five lengths.
Should Appleby opt to send Ruling Court to HQ for the first Classic of the campaign, that win in Dubai could be perfect preparation for Newmarket.
Henri Matisse – 16/1
Aidan O’Brien confirmed Twain won’t run in this year’s Guineas but he lead the market for many weeks at 11/2. His Ballydoyle stablemate Henri Matisse could prove a decent outside alternative at 16/1—especially with a run under his belt already this season.
A well-tried juvenile, the three-year-old won three times in a row at the Curragh to kick off his career and rounded off the campaign with a landmark success on his sixth run in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.
Henri Matisse reappeared in Group 3 company for the “Red Rocks” Stakes at Leopardstown at the end of March, overcoming multiple hindrances to win by half-a-length.
He should come on nicely for that run, and the return to a mile for the Guineas is only going to suit the Wotton Bassett colt.
Opera Ballo – 16/1
They say lightning never strikes twice, but it certainly felt like it did at Kempton in January when Opera Ballo stormed home in a maiden similar to that which Notable Speech won the year before.
The Godolphin horse was well backed for its debut on the all-weather and didn’t disappoint when streaking clear over two furlongs out and winning by a commanding eight-and-a-half-lengths.
The son of four-time Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath followed up that win back at Kempton when beating Hott Shott by four lengths in January, and forms a strong team for Godolphin ahead of the Guineas.
However, it will be interesting to see if Appleby separates his runners come the Classic and who William Buick opts to ride.
