Air Of Suspense

All the logic says Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for Saturday's G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, but there is sound reason for opposing Ballydoyle's class principal with any one of the trinity of unbeaten rivals in this line-up. One of them is Al Wukair (Ire) (Dream Ahead), who would be providing Al Shaqab Racing with a second consecutive renewal following the breakthrough triumph of Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) against another seemingly inviolable presence from Rosegreen in Air Force Blue (War Front). Al Wukair enters this edition with the veneer of a future champion after three efforts which drew much attention for their style and manner. Autumn 2-year-old outings at Saint-Cloud and in Deauville's Listed Prix Isonomy were proceeded by what amounted to a comeback stroll in the G3 Prix Djebel over an inadequate seven furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte on Apr. 10. There were significant early portents that he was in trouble during that contest and for a brief period it looked as if he would get detached, so the end result can only be upgraded as he eventually subdued last year's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) with unnatural ease. Andre Fabre, highly selective in what he brings here down the years, has been cautiously optimistic in the run-up but Al Shaqab's racing manager Harry Herbert is getting excited. “Andre told me earlier this year that his work rider, who has ridden some good ones over the years, said that this is the best he had ridden,” he said. “Andre told me he had to have a prep race and was always leaning toward the English Guineas, so he wouldn't have minded if he had been beaten in the Djebel as he needed the experience. What he did in that race, you don't see very often. I thought he hadn't really clicked into racing there, then he was running past horses on the bridle and was very impressive. There are some tough nuts to crack here, but this is a special horse too and if he handles the track he will be very competitive. He looks to be an extraordinary horse–really, really talented.”

Ironically, Al Wukair's sire Dream Ahead was unable to land a blow on Frankel (GB) in two encounters in the G1 Dewhurst S. on this track in 2010 and the G1 St James's Palace S. the following year, and it is now time for a new rivalry via their progeny. The Juddmonte great's chief protagonist here is Eminent (Ire), trained not by the Aidan O'Briens or John Gosdens of the world but by the relatively low-key Martyn Meade. So far, Sir Peter Vela's bargain purchase from the family of some former Ballydoyle femmes fatales has been handled with the skill of a conditioner of a much higher strata and in an ordinary year he would be the one to beat based on his success in the key trial, the Apr. 20 G3 Craven S. With stamina on the dam's side allied to Frankel's puissance and proven ability on the course and ground, he ticks all the boxes and it is just a question of whether he is meeting something with greater ability. That is impossible to predict ahead of one of the best renewals in the last 30 years. “I'm really pleased with how he's come on from the Craven and it's all very exciting,” Meade commented. “What's in his favour is that he's won both of his races at Newmarket–of the others, only Churchill has won there. Also his winning time in the Craven was very quick. What might be against him is that a mile is a minimum for him already. He'll definitely get further, hopefully a mile-and-a-half later on. It might only be a small field, but they all look very good. There are lots of other horses, but Churchill is obviously one that I am concerned about. He has won on the track before when winning the Dewhurst, but we haven't seen him out this time.”

If Dream Ahead has a score to settle with Frankel, Excelebration (Ire) can be forgiven for holding a justified grudge against his nemesis after five demoralising defeats. The Coolmore sire's Barney Roy (GB) is poised to deliver that vengeance here following his clear-cut success in the seven-furlong G3 Greenham S. at Newbury on Apr. 22, which was also used by Richard Hannon as a prep for his 2014 Guineas hero Night of Thunder (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). If Al Wukair and Eminent can be counted among the best Djebel and Craven scorers of recent times, then Barney Roy also takes high rank among the past winners of his trial and offers Godolphin their best opportunity of glory in this race since Dubawi (Ire) in 2005. “Barney Roy is one of the most exciting horses we have had here in a very long time and hopefully he will run a very big race in the Guineas,” his trainer said. “Since his trip to run in the Greenham at Newbury, we have been delighted with him. He has been taking it pretty easy and just ticking along since his win. He did a little piece of work on Tuesday morning and did it very well. He is a pleasure to train–very simple, straightforward and sound.”

Hannon also saddles Cheveley Park Stud's Larchmont Lad (Ire), a son of Dubawi's conqueror Footstepsinthesand (GB) who beat Churchill's impressive Listed European Free H. winner Whitecliffsofdover (War Front) in a strongly-contested renewal of the G3 Tattersalls S. over seven furlongs here in September before running fifth in the Craven. Forced to race away from the main action there, he remains of interest. “My pair are exactly where I want them and I believe I have a strong hand,” Hannon added. “Larchmont Lad certainly isn't going to make up the numbers, either. He was completely in the wrong place in the Craven and is better than the result.”

The 2000 Guineas is littered with big-priced placed horses the likes of 100-1 shots Norse Dancer (Ire) (Halling), Rebel Rebel (Ire) (Revoque {Ire}), Kandidate (GB) (Kabool {GB}) and Stubbs Art (Ire) (Hawk Wing) and even Glory Awaits (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}), who was 150-1 when second four years ago. Several more have traded at around 33-1 and therefore it is unwise to regard Law and Order (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) as a no-hoper. Saeed Manana's silks were sported by Night of Thunder as he eclipsed Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) at 40-1 and the James Tate trainee has fair form, having won Lingfield's Listed International Trial S. on the Polytrack on Apr. 8 and finished third in the Listed Feilden S. over an extra furlong here 10 days later. “He's had two runs this spring, so he has fitness on his side and he likes fast ground, but he has a bit to find and I don't know if he's in love with the track,” his trainer said. “He is a big, strong heavy and lazy colt who needs plenty of work and who wants to eat and sleep all day. It doesn't matter how much work you throw at him, he stays heavy and he will probably go to Ireland after this [for the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh on May 27]. He didn't quite get a mile one last time and also had a penalty there, so a strongly-run mile will suit him better and I just hope he takes to the 'dip' better this time.”