A total of 83 colts have been entered for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, to be run at Newmarket's Rowley Mile racecourse Sat. 2 May. The Classic contest was the highest-rated 3-year-old race in the world in 2014 according to figures disclosed Tuesday by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. The top seven 2-year-old colts of last season on official ratings were given an entry, headed by European Juvenile Champion Belardo (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), winner of the race that has proved the best signpost to Guineas glory, the G1 Dewhurst S.
Next on the ratings list come Charming Thought (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Ivawood (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}), who were only separated by a nose in the G1 Middle Park S. over six furlongs, and Elm Park (GB) (Phoenix Reach {Ire}), the impressive winner of the G1 Racing Post Trophy over a mile. The Andrew Balding-trainee is set to begin his 2015 campaign in the Classic. “He is a Group 2 winner over the course and distance [in the G2 Royal Lodge S.] and we are all in agreement that the Guineas is the best first race for him–it ticks a lot of the boxes,” Balding said before adding, “I am delighted with him. He has developed well physically over the winter and has been cantering for a while now.”
Foreign trainers account for almost 30 per cent of the entries and no current trainer has a better record in the race than the six-time winner, Aidan O'Brien. Ballydoyle are represented by 10 entries, headed by Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the G1 National S. scorer who was later disqualified from first place in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, and Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has not been seen since his ready success in the G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood in July. The French challenge is led by the unbeaten beneficiary of that Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere disqualification, Full Mast (Mizzen Mast), while America is represented by the Wesley Ward-trained Hootenanny (Quality Road), runner-up to fellow entryThe Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the G1 Prix Morny last August and subsequent winner of the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.