16:40 Newmarket

Saturday 6 May 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:4017:1517:50

Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 1m 41.64s

(12)

Auguste Rodin¹⁹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118| D

13/8

Unlucky on debut and made no mistake in 3 subsequent outings, running out the comfortable winner of Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster (1m, heavy) in October. Saxon Warrior and Magna Grecia have completed the Futurity/2000 Guineas for the stable in recent years. Moore on him rather than Little Big Bear.

Form: 2111-

(3)

Chaldean¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Dettori| T: A M Balding| OR: 119| BF| C

7/2

Frankel colt who progressed at a rate of knots last season, completing the 4-timer when edging out Royal Scotsman in Group1 Dewhurst here (7f) in October. 5/2, unseated rider at the start on his reappearance in the Greenham. Should stay 1m. Strong candidate.

Form: 51111-U

(14)

Charyn¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: R Varian| OR: 110

66/1

Third to stablemate Sakheer in Mill Reef before ending his 2-y-o season with a 6f Group 2 win at Chantilly. Creditable 3 lengths second of 11 to Isaac Shelby in Greenham at Newbury (7f, heavy) on reappearance 14 days ago, keeping on in a manner which suggests 1m will suit him.

Form: 1231-2

(6)

Dubai Mile¹⁹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: C Johnston| OR: 114| D

33/1

Did nothing but progress last year, second in Royal Lodge over C&D before producing a tremendously game performance to win 1¼m Criterium de Saint-Cloud (heavy) on final start. Another chunk of improvement needed here, though.

Form: 41121-

(1)

Flight Plan²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: K R Burke| OR: 102

40/1

Night of Thunder colt who left debut run well behind to win 10-runner novice at Newcastle in November. Stepped up again when head second in 1m listed race there on Good Friday reappearance. More to come from him.

Form: 51-2

(8)

Galeron²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 97

150/1

Useful colt who showed he's trained on well when third (Flight Plan 2¼ lengths ahead in second) of 11 in 1m Newcastle listed race on reappearance but surely biting off more than he can chew at ths level.

Form: 16641-3

(4)

Hi Royal¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: K A Ryan| OR: 91| D

125/1

Won a 1m Ayr novice at 2. Improved again when fourth in 7f course conditions race on reappearance, his late headway suggesting this return to 1m will suit. Capable of better but huge improvement needed to play a prominent role.

Form: 31-4

(5)

Holloway Boy^v¹⁹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: C Soumillon| T: K R Burke| OR: 109

18/1

Made winning debut in Chesham at Royal Ascot and backed that up in Group company subsequently. Beaten 5¼ lengths into third by Auguste Rodin in Futurity at Doncaster on final start but that doesn't tell whole story as he hung right across the track after tanking into the lead in a first-time visor.

Form: 12233-

(9)

Indestructible¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: K R Burke| OR: 112| CD

25/1

Chased home Chaldean in Acomb at York and Champagne at Doncaster for Michael O'Callaghan at 2. Took his form up another notch when making a successful reappearance for new trainer Karl Burke in Craven over C&D last month. More required to go close here.

Form: 5122-1

(13)

Little Big Bear²⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 124

5/1

Produced an outstanding juvenile performance when a devastating 7-length winner of Group 1 Phoenix at the Curragh (6f, good) last August. Missed the rest of the season due to a foot injury. Pedigree provides plenty of hope that he'll stay 1m. Deserted by Moore but still much respected.

Form: 21111-

(2)

Noble Style²⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 117

10/1

Unbeaten in 3 outings as a juvenile, culminating with 1¼-length defeat of Marshman in Gimcrack at York (6f, good to firm) in August. Missed the remainder of his 2-y-o campaign due to a bout of colic. Very talented but stamina the big unknown now stepping up 2f in trip.

Form: 111-

(11)

Royal Scotsman²¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: P & O Cole| OR: 118

11/1

Gleneagles colt whose only blip at 2 came when disappointing behind Noble Style in the Gimcrack, bouncing back with head second to Chaldean in the Dewhurst here in the autumn, looking well suited by the step up 7f. Should prove as effective at 1m.

Form: 413152-

(10)

Sakheer²³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 114

16/1

Came a long way in a short space of time at 2, quickening clear in impressive fashion in Mill Reef at Newbury (6f, good; reopposing stablemate Charyn back in third) on final start. Looks a Group 1 performer but the big question is whether he'll stay 1m.

Form: 211-

(7)

Silver Knott¹⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 115| BF| CD

14/1

Below form when behind Chaldean and Indestructible in the Champagne but quickly back on track with defeat of Epictetus and Holloway Boy in the Autumn Stakes over C&D. Close second in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf final start. Buick seemingly prefers him to Noble Style.

Form: 411312-

Forecasts

Auguste Rodin (13/8), Chaldean (7/2), Little Big Bear (5/1), Noble Style (10/1), Royal Scotsman (11/1), Silver Knott (14/1), Sakheer (16/1), Holloway Boy (18/1), Indestructible (25/1), Dubai Mile (33/1), Flight Plan (40/1), Charyn (66/1), Hi Royal (125/1), Galeron (150/1)

AUGUSTE RODIN did everything right at 2 and can become the fourth horse (and third from his yard) since 2018 to complete the Futurity/2000 Guineas double. His stablemate Little Big Bear is bred to stay 1m and would be a major threat if reproducing anything close to his Phoenix Stakes form. Chaldean suffered an unfortunate experience on his reappearance but his juvenile form stacks up well and he can prove best of the home team ahead of Sakheer, who is already smart but isn't certain to stay 1m.