2000 Guineas Horse Racing Analysis:
The first classic horse race of the season is due to run on the opening weekend in May. Run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket, thoroughbred racehorses will take their chance for a shot at a shot at Group One glory. The odds suggest the race may be a little one sided, but I will run through the main contenders in order that you can make up your mind and place you bets accordingly.
2000 Guineas Betting Market
Pinatubo – The betting suggests he is the one that they all have to beat. His price is a little prohibitive at a shade of odds against but he comes here in a rich vein of form having won all six career starts to date. Races he has won along the way include The Dewhurst Stakes, The Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, The Vintage Stakes and not forgetting the power packed performance when winning the Chesham at Royal Ascot last year. He boasts a favourites’ profile for the race. He is a horse with a willing attitude and Godolphin continue to build up their profile across the globe. Charlie Appleby will be hoping to record a first ever win in the race and Pinatubo could well be the horse that delivers it.
Earthlight – This horse timed his last race to perfection when justifying favouritism by winning the Middle Park Stakes by a neck. Mickael Barzalona was the man on board as this Godolphin runner, who landed a few tidy bets in the process. Prior to that he had raced solely in France and if he has strengthened up over the winter he will be a force to be reckoned with. All of his best races have come with plenty of give underfoot and he may be worth a bet at around 8/1 should the rains descend at Newmarket.
Siskin – It is not often that Ger Lyons finds himself with a live Classic contender but he certainly has one here. Siskin is a horse that has found himself at the head of the betting in his last three runs. All of those races came at The Curragh and he took his first Group One when winning the Phoenix Stakes. He is versatile regarding ground conditions and if partnered by Colin Keane he may well shorten up in the betting market .
Palace Pier – Has done nothing wrong in two previous races for John Gosden. Both of those wins came at Sandown Park on good ground or better. This horse is open to any amount of improvement but has yet to prove himself at the very highest level. He was sent off at odds of 1/8 in his last race and won doing handstands. There ought to be plenty more to come from this horse and he may have an each way squeak at around 16/1 if you want to have a bet.
Arizona – Aidan O’Brien will have worked wonders on him over the winter should this son of No Nay Never find his way into the winner’s enclosure. This horse promised so much when winning the Group two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot before going off the boil. Despite being sent off as the 2/1 market leader in the betting at the Breeders Cup Juvenile, his season was summed up as he finished a disappointing fifth to Structor. There look to be horses with more solid betting credentials.
Summary
Pinatubo is a deserved favourite given the Group one races he has won. He is fairly short in the betting, but between him and Earthlight, Godolphin should have a strong say in winning this race for the first time since Dawn Approach justified his short odds in the 2013 renewal. Siskin seems a short price in the betting market for what he has shown so far but he can only beat what is put up against him. A larger field might catch him off guard. It is hard to believe that John Gosden has never won this race and despite the exciting profile of his horse Pacific Pier, he may have to wait another year. He appears to have plenty on his plate. Pinatubo is likely to be partnered by James Doyle and the pair already have the beating of Arizona based on their run in the Dewhurst. The more you look at the form, the better it looks and he looks the bet to be had in what will be a fascinating race.
Mar 18, 2020; Tampa Bay, Florida, USA; Jockey Samy Camacho atop MattyÕs Express (5) wins the fourth race of the day as the Tampa Bay Downs is closed to the public at Tampa Bay Downs. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
1000 Guineas Betting Analysis:
Quadrilateral – Heads the betting at around 6/1. She made it a perfect three from three when winning over the course and distance in the Fillies Mile. In that race she had a little too much in hand for her fellow entrants Love and Boomer. It may well turn out that she needs more of a middle distance in time but she will have her fans who want to have a bet on her.
Millisle – The first of two Jessica Harrington trained fillies who caught many by surprise when winning the Cheveley Park Stakes. She turned over the odds-on favourite in that race and delivered a withering late run to deny Raffle Prize. Named after a small seaside town in Northern Ireland she could make a big impression. The yard are renowned for the success of their fillies in recent seasons and many will feel she is worthy of an each way bet.
Albigna – The second of the Harrington contenders and she will race in the famous Niarchos family silks. The filly won her first two races at The Curragh on good ground last year before being put away for an autumn campaign. She was heavily backed in the betting on her return to action at the Curragh in September but ran a shocker. She was then sent on a recovery mission to Longchamp. She featured quite highly in the betting and proved her supporters right by drawing right away in the closing stages. It was a valuable Group One prize but is hard to know what to make of the form. If the ground was good she could be worth a bet at around 14/1.
Daahyeh – This horse has headed the betting in five of the six races she has contested so far. She is an absolute model of consistency and was truly unlucky not to get her head in front at Santa Anita in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf last autumn. Given a bit of better luck in running, she showed in that last race that the trip was not an issue. Roger Varian is an excellent trainer of horses and she must give him high hopes of landing another Group one race with this rising star. Genuine good ground brings out the best in her and she looks to have outstanding claims. If you want to have a bet on her she is around a 16/1 chance
Khayzaraan – This French raider is held in serious high regard. She has been sent off as a heavily supported odds on favourite in each of her last two races. She created quite an impression when winning her maiden by nine lengths at Deauville. She then went on to contest a conditions race at Chantilly and again she won the race as she liked. She has not been tried at the very highest level, but under the tutelage of Andre Fabre she has to command respect. Certainly worthy of her place in the line up she can be found in the betting market at around 16/1 if you fancy her chances.
Horse Racing Tip
Whilst Quadrilateral comes here on an unbeaten run, Roger Charlton is not the man to rely on winning a Classic. His last winner of such a high profile race in the UK was when Quest For Fame won The Derby in 1990. That puts me somewhat off the likely favourite for this race. Jessie Harrington has two live chances according to the betting, but their form whilst impressive in the individual races is questionable. There are worse each way shots than Daahyeh who gives it her all in every race. She came so close to winning on a major international stage over in America. Roger Varian has enjoyed so much success in a relatively short time as a racehorse trainer and he will have her fit and ready. She is certainly an each way bet to nothing and having a form record of 121 on the track, she looks value here.
Karl Hedley
