It is now just under two months until the first Classic of the 2021 Flat season takes place – the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, staged on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on Saturday 1st May.
There are 72 entries for the mile contest, which will be run for the 213th time this year and forms part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.
Master of Ballydoyle Aidan O’Brien has saddled a record 10 QIPCO 2000 Guineas winners and accounts for 12 entries this year, headed by St Mark's Basilica, winner of the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes on the Rowley Mile in 2020 and Battleground, impressive when taking the Group Two Vintage Stakes before finishing second in the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Trainers Joseph O’Brien, Andrew Balding and Richard Hannon gave updates on their contenders as the entries were revealed today.
Joseph O’Brien - Thunder Moon
Won first two starts, including Group One Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, before finishing third when 11-4 favourite for the Darley Dewhurst Stakes
“Thunder Moon has wintered well and we are pleased with where we are. There is plenty of water still to go under the bridge yet but it is exciting to have a live contender for the 2000 Guineas. We were very pleased with the run in the Dewhurst considering the ground on the day. He was posted on a tougher part of the track as there was bias towards the stands rails but we were pleased with him. He is obviously a pretty quick horse on what he has done so far but he shapes as though a mile will be within compass so I don’t see the trip being a problem. I do feel that he will be better on quicker ground as well. It is nice to have had a run at the track previously and that experience there won’t do him no harm. We have the option of running him beforehand but we will decide nearer the time and see how the horse is before making that decision.”
Andrew Balding - Youth Spirit
Successful in a seven-furlong maiden on the July Course, he subsequently came home third to Battleground in the Vintage Stakes
“He had a setback after the Vintage at Goodwood that is why we didn’t see him for the rest of the year. We are just about to increase the speed of his work. He would be a possibility for the 2000 Guineas.”
Richard Hannon – Chindit
Won first three starts, culminating in Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster before finishing down the field in Darley Dewhurst Stakes
He said: “I’m very pleased with him and he has done very well. He did just a bit more than a canter a few days ago, him Fancy Man and Etonian all worked and it was a lovely start. Regarding his Newmarket run, the times say that the ground was heavy and it looked it. Chindit will go wherever there is decent ground. If it turns up at Newbury that is where he will go first (Greenham). He had done all his winning on flat tracks at Doncaster and Ascot before Newmarket and I’m not sure he loved the track. He has always been a neat horse with a good action. He is a good horse with a lot of speed. I think he would get the mile in a Guineas and would be suited by that trip as he is a very straightforward, simple horse.”
QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS (Group 1) 01/05/21
A Case of You (IRE) 3 9 0 Gary Devlin Adrian McGuinness
Admiral Nelson (GB) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien
Akmaam (FR) 3 9 0 Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum Brian Meehan
Albadri (IRE) 3 9 0 Alsharq racing Jane Chapple-Hyam
Albasheer (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum Owen Burrows
Ataser (GB) 3 9 0 Guaymas T. J. Kent
Baradar (IRE) 3 9 0 Amo Racing Limited Roger Varian
Battleground (USA) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien
Belloccio (FR) 3 9 0 All for One Racing David Menuisier
Cadillac (IRE) 3 9 0 Alpha Racing 2020 Mrs J. Harrington
Chez Pierre (FR) 3 9 0 Mr R. Jackson Francis-Henri Graffard
Chindit (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Michael Pescod Richard Hannon
Devilwala (IRE) 3 9 0 Amo Racing Limited & Arjun Waney Ralph Beckett
Duke of Mantua (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O'Brien
El Drama (IRE) 3 9 0 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian
Encounter Order (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori Ismail Mohammed
Etonian (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs J. Wood Richard Hannon
Existent (GB) 3 9 0 Cheveley Park Stud John Gosden
Fancy Man (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Michael Pescod Richard Hannon
Fundamental (GB) 3 9 0 Cheveley Park Stud John Gosden
Guru (GB) 3 9 0 Lady Bamford John Gosden
High Definition (IRE) 3 9 0 D Smith/Mrs.J Magnier/M Tabor/Westerberg Aidan O'Brien
Highland Avenue (IRE) 3 9 0 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
Hms Seahorse (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien
Ilza'eem (FR) 3 9 0 KHK Racing Ltd & Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa Simon & Ed Crisford
Insomnia (GB) 3 9 0 REBEL RACING PREMIER III Richard Spencer
Isle of Sark (USA) 3 9 0 Teme Valley Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Jadoomi (FR) 3 9 0 Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum Simon & Ed Crisford
King Vega (GB) 3 9 0 Apollo Racing & DTA Racing Andrew Balding
King Zain (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Jaber Abdullah Mark Johnston
Laneqash (GB) 3 9 0 Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum Roger Varian
Latest Generation (GB) 3 9 0 Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum Simon & Ed Crisford
Legion of Honour (GB) 3 9 0 Teme Valley 2 Roger Varian
Lucky Vega (IRE) 3 9 0 Zhang Yuesheng Mrs J. Harrington
Mac Swiney (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs J. S. Bolger J. S. Bolger
Master of The Seas (IRE) 3 9 0 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
Megallan (GB) 3 9 0 Mr A. E. Oppenheimer John Gosden
Mehmento (IRE) 3 9 0 Hambleton Racing XLVI & Partner Archie Watson
Merchants Quay (FR) 3 9 0 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien
Method (IRE) 3 9 0 Manton Park Racing Martyn Meade
Military Style (USA) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O'Brien
Mithras (GB) 3 9 0 Haras de Saint Pair John Gosden
Mujbar (GB) 3 9 0 Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum Charles Hills
Mystery Smiles (IRE) 3 9 0 King Power Racing Co Ltd Andrew Balding
Nando Parrado (GB) 3 9 0 Mrs Marie McCartan Clive Cox
Naval Crown (GB) 3 9 0 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
Noble Dynasty (GB) 3 9 0 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
One Ruler (IRE) 3 9 0 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
Parchemin (IRE) 3 9 0 Godolphin S.N.C. A. Fabre
Percy's Lad (GB) 3 9 0 JD Partnership Eve Johnson Houghton
Poetic Flare (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs J. S. Bolger J. S. Bolger
Prince Lancelot (GB) 3 9 0 A. Gilibert Fabrice Chappet
Rhythm Master (IRE) 3 9 0 John and Jess Dance Richard Fahey
Rifleman (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs J Magnier, Mr M Tabor & Mr D Smith John Gosden
Rogue Force (IRE) 3 9 0 The Rogues Gallery Tom Clover
Roman Empire (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien
Royal Air Force (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Edward J. Ware Simon & Ed Crisford
Royal Champion (IRE) 3 9 0 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian
Royal Scimitar (IRE) 3 9 0 AlMohamediya Racing Clive Cox
Sandhurst (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O'Brien
Sayf Al Dawla (GB) 3 9 0 Ms Sally Elizabeth Wall Peter Chapple-Hyam
Secret Protector (USA) 3 9 0 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
Snapraeterea (IRE) 3 9 0 J.P. Farrell Joseph Patrick O'Brien
State of Rest (IRE) 3 9 0 Teme Valley Joseph Patrick O'Brien
St Mark's Basilica (FR) 3 9 0 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien
The Attorney (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Ziad A. Galadari Charles Hills
The Rosstafarian (IRE) 3 9 0 Middleham Park Racing LXXXVII Hugo Palmer
Thunder Moon (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs C. C. Regalado-Gonzalez Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Van Gogh (USA) 3 9 0 M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs Magnier/Mrs Nagle Aidan O'Brien
Wembley (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien
Xaario (FR) 3 9 0 Mr Abdullah Almaddah David Menuisier
Youth Spirit (IRE) 3 9 0 Ahmad Al Shaikh Andrew Balding
About QIPCO British Champions Series
QIPCO British Champions Series showcases 35 of the UK’s finest Flat races, including three of the world’s top 10. The Series features at all of the UK’s most iconic Flat festivals, from the Derby and St Leger, to Glorious Goodwood and Royal Ascot, presenting unparalleled, quality racing across 10 of the country’s finest racecourses.
The Series exhibits world-class sporting action across five different categories – Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies & Mares.
Five top-class races mark the climax of the Series on the Ultimate Raceday, QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 16th October, where the world’s best compete at the nation’s richest raceday.
Put simply, QIPCO British Champions Series shines the spotlight on the best horses, the best jockeys and the best racecourses, so that millions worldwide can follow the finest Flat racing.
For more info on QIPCO British Champions Series and Day visit britishchampionsseries.com
