3.50 Newmarket
Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (206th Running) (British Champions
Series) (Group 1) (Class 1) (3YO only)
Winner £255,195 –
Already Advised: 1 pt each/way War Command, 25th
April, (9/1 general), 1 pt each/way Night of Thunder (12/1 general)
Advice: 1 pt each/way Toormoore (9/1 general)
Australia: Long been hled in highest of regard by
Ballydoyle, and made amends for maiden defeat (broke slowly) when landing
maiden easily at Curragh; Then created huge impression when trashing previous
wide margin maiden winner Free Eagle at Leopardstown, taking winter favouritism
for this race and the Derby; No doubting his promise although hard to think
runner up was at his best there and no substance to the race otherwise; No
surprise if in shakeup but also possibly better over further given his pedigree.
Bookrunner: Impressive when winning Chantilly maiden last
November and improved markedly on that to finish close fourth (four way photo)
behind Charm Sprit in Prix Dejebel; Surely not seen the best of him yet
(today’s trip a bonus) and trainer won with similar type in Makfi two years
ago; Respected even with huge step up in class. 
Charm Spirit: Lost his maiden at the start but made amends
with easy success at Longchamp before staying on third behind Nooznoh Canarias
and Karakontie in Prix Jean-Luc there, and shaped as if a mile and further
would help him greatly when landing four way photo finish to Dejebl on return
last month (Bookrunner fourth); Should see better today although a lot more
required of him. 
Ertijaal: Unbeaten since second to Toormore on Leicester
debut, landing Yarmouth maiden and pair of AW successes at Lingfield, but hard
to rate either of those races highly despite impressive attitude and needs to
reach a whole new level today. 
Kingman: Touted for this since deeply impressive maiden win
over on the July course and did no harm for his chance when landing Solario
Stakes with ease although way he blew strong Greenham field (Night of Thunder
second) out of the water on return was arguably the most impressive pre race
performance of any contender here; Sure to take the beating today. 
Kingston Hill: Looked a promising colt on debut and quickly
stamped himself down as high class juvenile with wins here in the Autumn Stakes
and then in the Racing Post trophy when he drew well clear in final furlong for
impressive win; Can make up into a high class horse this year but form of his
group wins been let down badly since and never run on ground faster than good
to soft (two of three wins on soft) which gives worry that this may happen too
fast for him. 
Master The World: Looked a useful type when landing C&D
maiden from the front but shaped as if further would be his game there and
nowhere on return in Listed race over 1m1f; Cannot be recommended here. 
Night of Thunder: Looked very exciting on debut at Goodwood
when running well clear and even more so at Doncaster when winning Listed race
just as easily; However, slammed by Kingman on return in the Greenham and no
reason for him to turn around the form today. 
Nooznoh Canarias: Spanish flyer who outsped opposition on
first three starts including Deauville Listed race before close second in Prix
Jean Luc (ahead of Charm Spirit), run down by Karakontie in the last half a
furlong; Maybe soft ground not helpful for him that day although stamina again
the issue with potential competition for the lead and extra furlong here. 
Outstrip: Won strong maiden on debut and got away from
Vintage Stakes field with smart turn of foot only to be caught home late on by
Toormore; Then an impressive winner at Doncaster in Champagne Stakes before
third in Dewhurst (better than that suggests); Benefit of superb ride to land
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf; Can go well here. 
Shifting Power: Kept
his unbeaten record with a tight verdict over Mushir when the beneficiary of a
superb ride from Ryan Moore and will be better for the run and this trip, but
on a line through Coventry second Parabold, needs to find a stone and upwards
to get involved today. 
The Grey Gatsby: Highly respectable level of form after
maiden win, second in Champagne Stakes (although very well beaten by Outstrip)
and didn’t handle soft ground when only seventh behind Kingston Hill at
Doncaster; Good effort when second in the Craven but got a 2 length beating and
3lbs so hard to see that form reversed.
Toormoore: Only a neck winner over Ertijaal at Leicester on
debut but much better than margin suggested and impressive turn of foot to cut
down Outstrip in Vintage Stakes at Goodwood; Much easier winner of the National
Stakes in Ireland and while he wasn’t impressive for many on return in the
Craven, docile pace didn’t help matters and well on top in the end (gave 3lbs
to The Grey Gatsby); That should see him spot on for today and can go very
well.
War Command: Further he went the better on debut so surprise
that he was so quick to the front in Coventry before routing his field;
Couldn’t break the curse of the Coventry Stakes winner in Phoenix next time out
but much better in Futurity and impressive attitude when grinding out Dewhurst
win where Outstrip third and slower ground didn’t exactly suit him; A mile
today overdue, quick surface good news, and all set for bold showing.
VERDICT: A fantastic start to the flat season proper with a
stellar looking field. Kingman has understandably been all the age and will
take the beating after a deeply impressive Greenham win, and his is much
preferred to Australia, who has shaped with great promise but has much to prove
in hard form terms and who may appreciate longer distances more than today, but
there is no reason why WAR COMMAND and TOORMORE, Group 1 winners both, can
throw down big challenges today. War Command should enjoy the fast surface here
in comparison to the slow track he won his Dewhurst (Outstrip well behind) on,
while a bigger field and stronger all out gallop should see the best from
Toormoore, a workmanlike winner of the Craven Stakes when last seen. Spanish
raider Noozhoh Canarias has stamina issues to face, while Kingston Hill’s group
wins haven’t stood up to scrutiny, making Outstrip the best of the outsiders;
French pair Charm Sprit and Bookrunner add yet more depth.
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