We may have had the sort of weather that one might associate with Cheltenham and the Grand National, but it was hard not to feel the Flat season spring into full effect with the first Classic of the season at Newmarket.
The QIPCO 2000 Guineas (16:40) took centre stage and Frankie Dettori was to take an emotional success about Chaldean for Andrew Balding as Aidan O'Brien's quest for an eleventh Guineas ended disappointingly. Hi Royal was a gallant second at 125/1 with Royal Scotsman third.
The Frankel colt could well head next to Royal Ascot.
Earlier in the day, Balding took the opener on the card with Teumessias Fox. The gelding following up a success at Kempton and continuing the improvement that the unkindest cut of all has seemingly brought about.
Azure Blue was an impressive winner earlier in the card for Michael Dods and given jockey Paul Mulrennan's assessment, she appears to be a filly worth sticking with over the season.
Vadream relished the softening going to score in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes under Kieren Shoemark and connections are likely to head anywhere where the rain goes.
We were joined by Garry Owen and our man was on the money with 7/1 shot King Of Conquest. His supporters went home with warm pockets after the finale as Yacowlef dotted up at odds of 7/2.
Key Events
That's a wrap
Well conditions have been tough this afternoon as the rain has fallen but we've managed to make it to the other side and though a certain coronation will hold the front pages of the paper - Frankie Dettori - who has been a King in our sport for many a year - has bagged the first Classic of the season in what is his farewell year.
Tomorrow it will be the turn of the fillies in the 1000 Guineas but if you are near Hamilton - it's family day and better still - if your name is Charles - it's free entry!
This is Ian Brindle signing out - and wishing you all a pleasant Bank Holiday weekend.
Yacowlef digs in for victory
Paul and Oliver Cole may have been disappointed to have seen Royal Scotsman finishing third in the 2000 Guineas but Yacowlef gained them a little consolation.
Held up off the pace, he relished today's trip in the conditions and was to win comfortably under a mud-splattered Ryan Moore.
Striking Star had every chance when asked to win his race but just lacked the quality of what could be a progressive handicapper.
The race also saw Garry Owen bow out on the day in profit with a 7/2 scorer.
BETTING 17:50 Newmarket
Striking Star 2/1
Divine Libra 9/4
Yacowlef 3/1
Chartwell House 13/2
Verdansk 9/1
Tiriac 14/1
Jahidin 33/1
Grand Central 125/1
NR 2,4,10,11
Winter never far away
It will be interesting to see what the experts make of our 2000 Guineas today...
Here's Simon Rowlands and his take:
PREVIEW: Cole can strike gold in nightcap
Paul and Oliver Cole can bag the closing Howden Confined Handicap with YACOWLEF.
The colt ended last season with a decent fourth to Quantum Impact in a Newbury nursery.
He looked even better when chasing home Once More For Luck on his return at this venue.
The bay was doing all his best work late so he can defy a welter-burden over seven furlongs.
PREVIEW 17:50 Newmarket
Kieren Shoemark has the chance of a double with Divine Libra in our nightcap. This is a stronger affair than the Catterick race he won the other day but there is surely more to come from the grey.
Striking Star has had three races with plenty of give underfoot – obliging in a Novice Stake at Sandown before disappointing at Newbury in the Horace Hill Stakes.
Yacowlef will have to give weight away and though racing on a faster surface for the majority of his career – the pedigree suggests that Paul and Oliver Cole’s colt should be able to handle today’s conditions.
Chartwell House is unproven on the surface though the punters got up very early this morning to be getting their money down. Jamie Spencer hasn’t ridden a winner for 18 days and that’s a stat that the Irishman will be keen to expunge.
Shaquille a slam dunk
Shaquille isn't without his quirks but there was plenty to like about the way he went about business in race number seven on the card.
He still holds an entry in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and that would appear a likely target if he can continue to progress in the positive.
BETTING 5:15 Newmarket
Ferrous 2/1
Shaquille 5/2
Chasseral 11/2
Washington Heights 15/2
Buccabay 8/1
Bonny Angel 9/1
Tenjin 16/1
Brave Nation 18/1
Expert Agent NR
Eminency NR
Almaty Star NR
PREVIEW: Back Balding for more success
CHASSERAL can maintain Andrew Balding’s tremendous run in a trappy sprint.
The filly showed plenty of promise when third over five furlongs on her first two starts.
She learned plenty more when filling the same spot on her first try over six at Windsor.
The sprinter put those efforts to good use when thrashing Moralisa at Wolverhampton.
The Juddmonte raider remains nicely unexposed so she can strike under Oisin Murphy.
Dettori celebrates with the crowd
Well that was a rush... let's hear from Garry Owen ahead of the next...
Chaldean blitzes Guineas rivals
Frankie Dettori described riding in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas as being like a "dream" as Chaldean bounced back to form to take the first Classic of the season.
The colt famously parted company at the stalls in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury a couple of weeks ago but rider and horse were in perfect tune as they scorched clear of their rivals to win by an easy length-and-three-quarters.
Well punted in the morning by punters eager to keep faith with the Italian, the colt tracked rank outsider Hi Royal into the contest as the action took place in the centre of the track while the Coolmore pair of Little Big Bear and favourite Auguste Rodin stuck nearer to the stands' rail.
As the runners came past half way, it was evident that the favourite was in trouble as Ryan Moore was rowing away furiously with no response but the eye was drawn to Chaldean as Dettori went into the drive position.
Royal Scotsman briefly threatened from off the pace as Hi Royal began to veer to his left despite Oisin Murphy's efforts to correct him but the winner was allowed to coast home as Dettori kept his stick down and pushed out for glory.
A delighted Dettori said: "I had him in a good spot and I got to the top of the hill and Oisin kicked on and gave me a good fight but once I got clear of him...it was all over. I was able to enjoy it. It was such a surreal moment that I thought I hope I don't wake up. I hope it's real!"
Trainer Andrew Balding - who had trained a previous winner of the Guineas in Kameko - paid tribute to the Frankel colt.
He told ITV: "He's got it all. We were a little bit worried about the ground. It makes it a bit more of a test but what a fabulous ride and to get the fractions that good - that' s why he (Dettori) has been such a star."
It was a race to forgot for Aidan O'Brien and the Ballydoyle maestro saw his colts finishing twelfth and fourteenth respectively.
O'Brien told Racenews: "It was a little bit of a non-event. It was a non-event for Ryan’s horse and then Wayne’s horse got badly bumped and just got lit up. The whole thing was a bit of a non-event really. The travelling over is what it is.”
Dettori delivers in last Guineas hurrah
Frankie Dettori posted an emotional success in his final 2000 Guineas as Chaldean bolted up in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.
FULL RESULT 16:40 Newmarket QIPCO 2000 Guineas
1 Chaldean 7/2
T: Andrew Balding J: Frankie Dettori
2 Hi Royal 125/1
3 Royal Scotsman 11/1
4 Galeron 150/1
5 Dubai Mile
6 Noble Style
7 Sakheer
8 Charyn
9 Holloway Boy
10 Indestructible
11 Silver Knott
12 Auguste Rodin (13/8f)
13 Flight Plan
14 Little Big Bear
All 14 ran
QIPCO 2000 Guineas In Play...
He's drawing clear and Dettori punches the air...
Standby for a flying dismount!
At the Post!
The runners are just about at the post and we are due to go to time at 16:40.
Auguste Rodin will enter the stalls as our favourite.
BETTING QIPCO 2000 Guineas
Auguste Rodin 6/4
Chaldean 5/1
Little Big Bear 13/2
Royal Scotsman 10/1
Noble Style 11/1
Silver Knott 14/1
Holloway Boy 18/1
Sakheer 18/1
Indestructible 25/1
Dubai Mile 25/1
Charyn 33/1
Flight Plan 50/1
Hi Royal 80/1
Galeron 125/1
PREVIEW: Scotsman can seal Royal deal
ROYAL SCOTSMAN can return Paul Cole to the big time in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
The son of Gleneagles rates a serious value bet for the Whatcombe Ace and Scottish owner Jim Hay.
The colt made eye-catching late headway to finish fourth on debut over five furlongs at Ascot.
The three-year-old clearly relished tackling six when bolting up from Bluelight Bay at Goodwood.
He built on that effort when a slightly unlucky third behind Bradsell in the Coventry at Royal Ascot.
The three-year-old gained due compensation when routing Al Karrar in the Richmond at Goodwood.
The bay then seemed to resent being held-up when a lacklustre fifth in the Gimcrack Stakes at York.
However, he atoned with a cracking second to Chaldean in the Dewhurst over seven furlongs here.
The star was staying-on powerfully at the death so he can turn the tables on his old rival up in trip.
PREVIEW: QIPCO 2000 Guineas - British runners
Frankie Dettori has proved predictably popular with the casual punters as Chaldean has been warmly supported this morning to provide him with success this afternoon.
The partnership picked up the Dewhurst Stakes at HQ last year but their return to action this term was an inauspicious one as the Italian slide out of the side door in the Greenham Stakes as they left the stalls.
The Italian told ITV: "I went to Andrew's and rode him again and while he hasn't grown a lot, he's a good medium size and saves himself in the mornings, but he's got that Frankel stride. It's a massive, long stride.
"Only today will tell how good he is, but I can feel when I ride him in races he's sharper. He stayed seven furlongs no problem last year, and with the passing of time, a mile should be no problem now.
"He gave me a better feel at Doncaster with a bit of ease in the ground," he added. "I felt I kicked too soon at Newmarket and gave Royal Scotsman a chance to come back.
"He's very honest and has run on the track, so there's not too many bad things you can say about him. He brings consistent form to the table."
Godolphin won this race last year and interesting Noble Style has been backed to the expense of Silver Knott. The latter was beaten on this ground at Doncaster last September albeit he had been campaigned at a very high level throughout 2022.
The stable had a 1-2 though the bookmakers don’t fancy the chances of it today.
Sakheer was highly progressive for Roger Varian and won the Mill Reef at Newbury – finishing comfortably ahead of his stablemate Charyn.
Holloway Boy shocked plenty when winning the Chesham and has five lengths to find with Auguste Rodin in their meeting at Doncaster.
Indestructible made a first appearance for Karl Burke a winning one in the Craven Stakes and that’s a long acknowledged trial for this race.
Dubai Mile is sure to appreciate today’s conditions and while there is much to do on the formbook, his Group 1 win in Saint-Cloud last October tells us that the going will not be the recent for defeat.
PREVIEW: QIPCO 2000 Guineas - Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O’Brien has won 10 renewals of the 2000 Guineas and is the winning-most trainer of the opening Classic of the Flat season.
In winter quarters, Little Big Bear was ahead of Auguste Rodin in the ante-post lists but that situation has changed markedly.
Auguste Rodin will surely stay further than this – given he won the Futurity Stakes at Doncaster (what was formerly the Racing Post Trophy) and one would imagine the additional test of stamina that today’s going has placed upon participants could come into play.
The trainer said of the favourite: “He is by Deep Impact and they stay well and out of one of the best Galileo mares we ever had (Rhododendron). He’s already a collector’s item being one of the last horses sired by Deep Impact – I think there are only five or six in his generation and it was a great call by the boss to send her over to him. Then to have all the attributes he has shown us is a very rare thing.
“This horse always exuded class from the first time he worked. He has a long stride and is very relaxed. He is a very slick horse with a slick body.
“We were a little bit worried about going at Doncaster on that ground as it got very soft and he is a beautiful-moving horse and definitely not a soft ground horse. That’s why we were so delighted with the way he won.
“We don’t know if a mile will be too short for him but we are very happy with what he has done and what he is doing at the moment. He is a horse with loads of class and we are going to learn a lot about him and he is going to learn a lot.
“Little Big Bear is a horse that has won over five and six furlongs including the Windsor Castle over five furlongs at Royal Ascot and we know what kind of precociousness that takes. He then looked like he would get six and when he won the Phoenix Stakes he looked like he would get seven standing on his ear.
“When he had a setback we didn’t have any choice but to give him time. He got over it by the end of the season and didn’t miss any time over the winter and spring which is a big help. He’s a very laidback horse and only uses the petrol he needs to, so his temperament is a big advantage.”
