The next set of pointers to consider – read the first part of the article here – are the performances of a few colts in the Norfolk Stakes run on 18/06/2015 at the Royal Meeting. That race was won by the O'Brien horse Waterloo Bridge (foaled 12/03/2013 and by Zoffany out of Miss Childrey.) Waterloo Bridge is currently quoted at around 25/1 and he had Log Out Island and King Of Rooks behind him in the Norfolk.
The Hannon trained Log Out Island is also quoted at 25/1 and is by Dark Angel out of White Daffodil (foaled 18/02/2013). The horse came second to Waterloo Bridge finishing in a manner that suggested that the 8 furlongs of the Guineas would be no problem for him.
The fact that Log Out Island rallied in the closing stages of the "Norfolk" to take second place perhaps hints at something of a fighting spirit which any classic horse should have. Maybe the same could not be said of the Acclamation/Slap Shot Hannon horse King Of Rooks who led inside the final furlong but faded to come third.
And here is where it gets a bit confusing because both Waterloo Bridge and the next horse we are going to look at, Washington DC were beaten in races in Ireland by Round Two. However, what that confirms to me is that the ground that prevailed at Ascot during the Royal Meeting was simply too fast for Jim Bolger's charge.
And so to Washington DC, a Zoffany colt out of How's She Cuttin' trained by Aiden O'Brien and foaled on 10/03/2013.
Running in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot, the horse just held on to win that 5 furlong dash indicating that he may turn out to be regarded as a fast ground sprint specialist - not a Guineas horse. But the fact that he is quoted at only 20/1 for the Guineas tells me that not everyone is willing to dismiss him so readily.
The Windsor Castle Stakes also saw bin Suroor's Steady Pace have its third run in public. This Dark Angel/Cool Kitten colt is one of the youngest contenders having been foaled on 06/04/2013. Steady Pace finished just under a length behind the O'Brien colt and showed little to suggest that he would relish the stiff mile the Guineas represents; and I could not be tempted to take the 40/1 generally on offer for him.
Another winner at the Royal Meeting was Suits You, who just held on to take the 'Chesham'. Trained in France by E J O'Neill, Suits You is a colt by Youmzain out of the mare Lady Fashion. This win over 7 furlongs and beating the well fancied Ballydoyle strikes me as a very sound piece of form and the 25/1 available in places would seem to me to be a worthwhile possibility.
The actual oldest horse in the mix is Port Douglas (by the formidable sire Galileo out of the mare Walzerkoengin and born on 01/01/2013. Taken the way horses racing ages are calculated, if the colt had been born a day earlier he would be a four year old by the time of the Guineas and too old to compete in the race. Aiden O'Brien trains and the horse has had just one outing, winning a 7 furlong Maiden at Leopardstown.
Currently on offer at around 25/1, this horse seems one that O'Brien knows is very good and will keep under wraps, until the time is right.
Pretty much can be said also of another O'Brien/Galileo colt, Deauville, 2 months and one day younger than his half brother. Deauville (by Galileo out of Walklikeanegyptian) has also run just the once, winning a 7 furlong Maiden at Listowel. I suspect these two sons of Galileo are to be prepared with the Derby in mind. Again the horse is priced at around 25/1.
That concludes my review of some of the current market leaders in the ante-post betting for the English 2000 Guineas. The two that stand out to bear in mind for the 2000 Guineas are O'Neill's Suits You and Bolger's Round Two (especially if the ground at Newmarket in May is no faster than Good).
