2000 Guineas 2010

A great race, let's hop SNA is a new superstar. Must rush.


3.05 Newmarket
StanJames.com 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) (3YO only)
Winner £227,080
Picks: Fencing Master, Awzaan (e/w)
Al Zir: Exploded into contention for top prizes with seamless demolitions of maiden field and two other rivals in conditions event; Ran a good race when third behind St Nicholas Abbey in the Racing Post Trophy, and is likely to impove for better ground, but he still has it all to do on that evidence.

Audacity Of Hope: Landed nurseries at Doncaster and Newmarket as a juvenile and is bit better than result on his final 2 starts as a 2 – year old (close third in Group 3 second occasion); His fourth in the Free Handicap was a little bit disappointing considering his Group form, so would need to improve a lot.

Awazaan: Was 4 – 4 as a 2 year old and maintained unbeaten record in good style when winning the Middle Park in good style when last seen (staying on strongly until the end of the race, suggesting a mile would be no problem); Form of that race is good but not cast – iron, but was progressive when last seen and may still have more to come; Big chance.

Buzzword: Had a decent start to his career with a second and a win to his name, both at Windsor; Form has been well franked on both occasions and made eye-catching late progress to be 2nd behind runaway winner D**k Turpin in Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood; Was a bit disappointing when beaten by Shakespearian in the Solario, and put that right with good Group 3 win at Longchamp; Unable to confirm superiority over Siyouni in Group 1 and although he came out with credit when fifth in Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf last time, hard to see where improvement will come from.

Canford Cliffs: Looked unbeatable when landing his maiden an impressed even more when trashing Coventry field, having pulled hard and gone clear; Didn’t run too badly when third behind Arcano in Morny last August; Showed he still retained ability when finishing second in Greenham Stakes last time; Is easily about 6/8 lengths better than that run but it must be a worry that he hung so badly and he will need to be “buried”; For all that’s he’s still immensely talented, hasn’t proven he stays a mile.

Turpin: Unbeaten over 6 furlongs, having landed a maiden, Conditions, Sales race and Group 2 Richmond Stakes, beating Buzzword convincingly on that start; Looked for all the world as if he’d stay 7 furlongs when landing Tattersalls Sale Stakes in soft ground under a penalty, so his Jean Luc Gardere fifth was a bit disappointing, even allowing for blocked run; Not a bad effort when sixth in the Dewhurst either; Even allowing for his Greenham Stakes win, he still has to improve and is by no means the best horse out of that race

Elspeth’s Boy: 7f AW maiden winner only start who will do well to make any impact here.

Elusive Pimpernel: made a very taking debut when winning by a in what looked on paper and turned out to be a decent maiden, before then winning Acomb Stakes with a late charge after losing ground badly at the start; Ran an excellent second in the Racing Post Trophy before slamming his rivals in the Craven last time; Comes here fresh and the strong the gallop the better for him; Hasn’t finished improving.

Fair Trade: Improved on promise shown in only start at 2 when landing Newbury maiden in decent style; More to come and not a useless horse but has really been thrown in at the deep end.

Fencing Master: Highly promising debut when overcoming greenness to beat a subsequent winner at Dundalk first time out, and stepped up a level when coming second in the Dewhurst after a troubled trip and bad start; Shaped like much the best horse in the race that day, and should be given every chance on that form.

Greyfriarschorista: Probably continued his improvement even though he got touched off in a listed event last time; That still miles behind the best of these, assuming he’s as good on turf.

Hearts Of Fire: Got much better with experience as a 2 year old despite being forward enough to win Brocklesby on debut, also improving for step up in trip when landing Group 1 over a mile in Italy; Good sign that Stefan Pasquier is on board, and stable sound positive; Not without chance and generously overpriced although he will need to improve.

Inler: Gambled on and duly delivered on debut here when making all to win by four lengths here last October; Has to find a huge amount to take a hand here and will need to pore he stays’ but if doing so, may have a say.

Lord Zenith: Overcame steady pace when quickening smartly to land 1m listed race at Lingfield recently on first run for 9 months; That showed promise but needs much more.

Makfi: Impressed when making it 2 -3 winning Prix Dejibel last time, quickening impressively; Form of that not great but has to be respected coming here and may be more to come.

Red Jazz: Broke smartly and blazed away to decimate opposition in 5f Windsor maiden; Stepped up on that from when winner of a good 6f conditions stakes at Ascot; Flopped in the Coventry but good third behind Morny Winner Arcano was a good sign; Impressive in Free H’Cap last time but will not be allowed to dominate and even then, this tougher.

St Nicholas Abbey: Very highly regarded and lived up to his reputation by accomplishing his task in fine style on heavy ground in 1m Curragh maiden; Travelled easily and got the better of Layali Al Andalus late on in very good style to take Beresford Stakes; Really came to the form when slamming strong Racing Post Trophy field when last seen, making smooth hedway and running away; Must hold every chance on that basis, with the form looking strong (Elusive Pimpernel slamming Craven Field since).

Viscount Nelson: Looked like a very good horse on his first few starts, especially when landing the Hurricane Run Stakes under a hand ride; Probably exposed for the faster ground in Champagne Stakes and lost the race at the start in the Breeders Cup; Good run last time out but has a lot to find.

Xtension: Was a good second behind Canford Cliffs and very impressive in two wins as a 2 year old, both at Goodwood, having won the Vintage Stakes in good style; Ran well in the Dewhurst too and should give another good shot, although he did have every chance.

VERDICT: It looks as good a 2,000 Guineas as ever this year, headed by the hot favourite St Nicholas Abbey, who was a devastating winner of the Racing Post Trophy when last seen. The signs are good and if he reproduces that form, or even improves on it, it’s hard to see what stops him. It would be great to have another superstar to follow for the season, but 6/4 was a very short price, and now that’s gone, I’ll leave him alone at the price. Elusive Pimpernel has to be respected and it’s likely that he will get closer to St Nick than he did that day, while he is also fit. He’s a very solid e/w bet at 7/1. Canford Cliffs is still an immensely talented horse although he hasn’t won since his Coventry romp, and it must be a huge worry that he lost the race by hanging last time. He will also have to be buried in the field may suffer trouble in running. That is also my rationale behind not having Dick Turpin as the pick, as he was handed the race by Canford Cliffs. One of the horses that really takes my eye is AWZAAN, who was 4 -4 as a 2 year old and maintained his unbeaten record in good style when winning the Middle Park in good style on his last start. There are some very good signals coming from the yard and his jockey and if proving as good at a mile as he has over 6 furlongs (sire got 10 furlongs and dam got 7) , he should go close. One of the major form races for this is the Dewhurst, and when running on for second after having lost 3 lengths at the start, and coming widest of all when still green, there’s a big argument for saying that FENCING MASTER was the best horse in the race that day and he has a perfectly respectable chance. Al Zir should progress bundles for quicker ground and did take my eye, while I think that Inler needs to prove his big reputation, useful as he is. Xtension should also give it a good shot but I believe that Fencing Master had to do more having had less experience, which sways me his way.