2000 Guineas

There is a real sense of anticipation about this race.

The return of City Of Troy, the most exciting colt to grace the Ballydoyle gallops if the hype is to be believed. We’ve heard it before, as recently as last year when Auguste Rodin went off favourite for this race only to spectacularly flop. He’s certainly redeemed himself by winning the Derby , Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf.

City Of Troy is bred in the purple. He’s by Justify the American Triple Crown winner of 2018 out of Together Forever, a Coolmore mare who won the Fillies’ Mile as a two-year-old for Aidan O’Brien in 2014. The cross has been tried before as he has a full brother, the year older Unbelievable who was moved on to Hong Kong after achieving a Maiden win in Dundalk last year.

This fella is different from his brother. He made his racecourse debut last July winning a Maiden at the Curragh over 7f from Galen and Instant Appeal. The second hasn’t run since. The third followed up winning a Maiden at Gowran Park having, before meeting, City Of Troy run second to Deepone who went on the win the G2 Beresford Stakes. The biggest problem Ryan Moore had that day was pulling him up.

He went to Newmarket when stepped up in class for the G2 Superlative Stakes where he was a very impressive 6½L winner from the reopposing Hatem who won the Craven here this spring.

One more run as a juvenile saw him take the step up into G1 company when taking the Dewhurst here in October, again in very impressive style.

Rosallion has been spoken of in very high regard. Richard Hannon won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last October beating another of Aidan O’Brien’s Unquestionable who franked the form in no uncertain terms when going on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Notable Speech, the Godolphin representative trained by Charlie Appleby comes via another route. Three Kempton all-weather runs this year sees him arrive here unbeaten.

Karl Burke’s Night Raider has a similar profile having had two winning runs on the all-weather this time at Southwell. His trainer has been beaming about him describing him as having ten gears.

Alyaananbi from the Owen Burrows yard has it to find with both City Of Troy and Rosallion having been conquered by both, the former in the Dewhurst and the latter in the Pat Eddery Stakes.

Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter was unbeaten as a juvenile. A ready winner of a Newmarket Maiden over the July course, he followed up in an Ascot Novice, both over 7f before stepping up in trip to land the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes over 1m here.

Ralph Beckett’s Task Force will run in the Juddmonte silks. Three run’s last year, he’s never been beyond 6f. A Salisbury Maiden was followed by a Ripon Listed win before a good second to The Prix Morny winner Vandeek in the G1 Middle Park Stakes here.

Charlie Hill’s Iberian ran four times last year. His best run was when taking the Champagne Stakes over 7f from Subway who next time out took a G1 in France. Rosallion was third with Mountain Bear fourth who went on to run second to Unquestionable at Santa Anita.

This is the race that is often referred to as the final two year old race, it’s a wonderful prospect. Aidan O’Brien has reported a very happy prep for City Of Troy as has Richard Hannon with his charge, Rosallion. Karl Burke thinks Night Raider is very special also.

Let’s hope we get a great 2000 Guineas, something to truly light up the season. City Of Troy from Rosallion with Night Raider troubling them at the line would be nice.

Recommendation

City Of Troy

Rosallion

Night Raider

Tricast