2000 Guineas Saturday
In the 2000 Guineas nine go to post with Native Trail trading as a strong 4/11 odds on shot.
He sets a standard far above what his opponents have achieved. As a two-year-old he was a double G1 winner, taking the National Stakes here and following up in the Dewhurst, this year he’s won the Craven and while beaten fair and square by his stable companion Coroebus, a very good horse, in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket he showed he was still top drawer.
The only question is who’ll chase him home.
Buckaroo had some good form last year. He beat Stone Age at Galway to win his maiden and he has improved from two to three only going down a short head in a battle with Piz Badile in the Ballysax over a 1m2f with Duke De Sessa 3¾L back in third.
He was dropped in trip to 1m in the Tetrarch where he was a convincing winner over Wexford Native (previously won a maiden in nice fashion at Navan) with New Energy back in third and Malex back in forth (made an impression when winning on debut over 7f).
Ballydoyle relies solely on Ivy League. No runs at two, he’s already had a busy three-year-old campaign with four runs, twice a winner, a Dundalk maiden and a handicap at Naas, he couldn’t justify favoritism when stepped up to G3 company in the Amethyst at Leopardstown, albeit beaten by an older horse.
Atomic Jones coming with a late rattle was a G2 winner of the Juvenile Stakes over this distance at Leopardstown beating Stone Age a head, upped to a 1m2f for the Derby Trial he was well beaten by that rival. The drop in trip should suit.
Interesting that Andrew Balding sends Imperial Fighter. He won his maiden first time out at Goodwood last year and then bumped into a few when upped to pattern class. Royal Patronage, Coroebus and Luxemburg all beat him but none had more than 2½L on him. His comeback run at Newcastle was frustrating, denied a clear run he did finish well when the gap came.
There’s little to detract from Native Trial. He looks a cut above in what is already looking to be a very nice three-year-old crop. Imperial Fighter could well be the one to chase him home.
1000 Guineas Sunday
In the 1000 Guineas, fourteen have been declared with Tuesday heading the market at 11/4. A shorthead behind Discoveries on debut last June she won impressively at Naas prior to running a good third to Cachet at Newmarket in the 1000 Guineas.
Homeless Songs missed Newmarket was rerouted to Paris and then here. She showed a good turn of foot to win the Leopardstown Trial over 7f beating Agartha and Villanova Queen in April having disappointed on her final two runs last year.
Agartha, a tough filly, second in last year’s Moyglare, she usually tries to do it from the front, stepped up to a mile on her next start in the Cornelscourt Stakes, once again she was the bridesmaid, this time to History, the Ballydoyle second string who also run Concert Hall and Lullaby.
Panama Red was back in sixth in the Leopardstown Trial and improved to fifth in the Cornelscourt Stakes where Lady Of Inishfree was a place behind her. As a juvenile, Panama Red won at Listed level and also took her maiden when beating History.
Star Girls Aalmal missed the Guineas Trial instead going to Gowan Park where she was a ready winner from Prettiest. She was just as impressive at Dundalk in November beating Brostaigh 4¾L who beat a good field over the minimum trip at Naas on Sunday.
Hermana Estrella is only once raced, a winner last May from Quick Suzy who went on to take the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.
Purplepay comes from the Willie Haggas yard where she’s a recent recruit having previously been in France where she’d run third in the G1 Criterium International. James Ferguson also makes a challenge with Mise En Scene, a G3 winner at Goodwood last year.
In an open contest Star Girls Aalmal is a tentative choice to give Henry de Broomhead a first classic victory.
Recommendations
2000 Guineas
Native Trail and Imperial Fighter (Straight F/C)
Imperial Fighter 35/1 ew
1000 Guineas
Star Girls Aalmal 18/1 ew
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