As thoroughbred racing reaches its high season, punters throughout the world will be lining up to purchase their form guides or horse racing forms. On May 2, 2015, America’s Kentucky Derby will be run at Churchill Downs. On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, the British Triple Crown series also gets into gear with the 207th renewal of the Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes to be run at Newmarket Racecourse.
The British Triple Crown consists of three races (restricted to 3-year-olds):
The 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse – Group I – 1609 meters on turf – purse of approximately £450,000
The Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse – Group I – 2423 meters on turf – purse of approximately £1,325,000
The St. Leger Stakes at Town Moor in Doncaster, Yorkshire – Group I – 2937 meters on turf – purse of approximately £650,000
As this year’s field lines up with the starter, each horse will be seeking to become the first Triple Crown winner since Nijinsky accomplished the amazing feat in 1970.
As expected, leading the list of 34 nominations released by the Jockey Club is the brilliant Gleneagles (9/4 future book). The 3-year-old chestnut colt is owned by Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier & Derrick Smith, trained by Aidan O’Brien and figures to be ridden by his regular pilot Joseph O’Brien. While the colt has yet to start in this his sophomore season, he is still favoured based on an outstanding 2-year-old season that saw him voted as the Cartier Champion Two-year-old Colt in Europe. He won the award with victories in the Tyros Stakes, Futurity Stakes and National Stakes. He also captured the late-season Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in France, only to be disqualified for inference. Trainer O’Brien will be trying to win this race for the seventh time, securing a tie with the legendary John Scott for most victories.
After the defection of John F. Kennedy, O’Brien could have as many as three other starters with Highland Reel (9/1), Ol’ Man River (16/1) and War Envoy (67/1) still under consideration. Highland Reel was a winner of two of three start as a two-year-old.
Some of the other prominent nominees were recently in action for 2,000 Guineas trial races. Among the notable performances were those turned in by Kool Kompany, Muharrar and Home of the Brace. Kool Kompany (12/1), owned by Kool Kompany Partnership and trained by Richard Hammond, claimed victory in stylish fashion while winning the Craven Stakes at Newmarket. It was the horse’s first start as a 3-year-old after a busy 2-year-old season saw him win five of nine races.
Another Hannon runner, Muharrar (20/1), also made a successful return to the races with a brilliant victory in the Aon Greenham Stakes. After being steadied at the start, the colt made a gradual move outside other runners and took over with 200 meters remaining, establishing a Newbury course record in the process.
Home of the Brave, trained by Hugo Palmer ran its record to 4/2/1/1 after capturing the CSP European Free Handicap at Newmarket. In a race where the winner made all the running, it looks like Home of the Brave has made significant progress into the new season.
If Gleneagles falls short of expectations (see Kingman in 2014), the winner could come from anywhere. Punters would be well-advised to read their daily form guides or horse racing forms in order to stay up with breaking 2,000 Guineas news.
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