Betfred 2000 Guineas
 AutoUpdating 150x150 Gif
Group 1, Newmarket 15:35
£525,000 guaranteed,
3yo only,
1m, Class 1  
Saturday 4th May 2025

FormRatings

A significant market mover, Twain has stepped firmly into the spotlight for Aidan O’Brien following news that The Lion In Winter, the previous ante-post favourite, is doubtful for the Newmarket Classic.

A late-season revelation last term, Twain was one of two O’Brien juveniles—alongside Dewhurst runner-up Expanded—who only made their debuts in October before immediately announcing themselves at the highest level.

While Expanded had to settle for second at Newmarket, Twain stamped his class in France, landing the Criterium International in testing conditions.

Reflecting on their rapid ascents, O’Brien said: "What Twain and Expanded did last year was quite unusual. They both came out late, then a few days later were running in Group Ones. They were massive runs from both of them—Twain won in France and Expanded just got beat by Shadow of Light in the Dewhurst."

Expanded, who was initially intended to run for experience as a second string behind The Lion In Winter in the Dewhurst, found himself leading the charge when his stablemate was ruled out—an effort O’Brien believes deserves extra credit.

On Twain’s prospects, O’Brien was full of enthusiasm: "Physically, he’s done very well. Ryan (Moore) said he was very green in the Group One but still won nicely, so we’re thinking he could start in the Guineas. He’s got the pedigree and physique, and last year we only ran him at Leopardstown to give him an outing, but he won easily in bad ground. Then in France, it was the first time he’d followed horses, but he won well again. I actually think he’s a nice-ground horse, so we weren’t in any rush with him early on."

With plans taking shape, the current thinking is that Expanded could head to the Curragh for the Tetrarch Stakes en route to the Irish Guineas, while Twain is pencilled in for Newmarket.

"That’s the way we’re thinking," O’Brien added. "But all those things can change."

Henri Matisse made the perfect start to his three-year-old campaign, finishing with a flourish to land the Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” Stakes at Leopardstown on March 30.

A top-class juvenile last season, the Wootton Bassett colt claimed four victories from six starts, his biggest triumph coming under the bright lights of Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Returning to action for the first time since that November success, he was tasked with conceding 3lb all around in this seven-furlong Group Three and was sent off the 6-4 favourite under Ryan Moore.

It wasn’t all plain sailing. Moore had to get to work sooner than expected as Arizona Blaze shot clear off the home turn, looking to make every yard. But as the early leader began to feel the pinch, Henri Matisse was just hitting top stride, swooping late to win by half a length from Comanche Brave, with Arizona Blaze another half-length away in third.

Aidan O’Brien was pleased with what he saw: “He wants to get there late, and when he does, he waits. He’ll come on a lot for that because they went a good gallop, and he’s only been doing half-speeds at home,” the Ballydoyle maestro said. “Ryan felt he’d be more comfortable stepping up to a mile, and that makes sense.”

With the 2000 Guineas picture taking shape, Coral wasted no time trimming Henri Matisse to 12-1 from 16-1 for Newmarket’s opening Classic. “We couldn’t send them all to the Guineas first time out, so we had to get some going earlier,” O’Brien added. “He’s obviously very smart and quickens very well—he’ll improve plenty.”

Ruling Court, a three-year-old colt by Justify, spread-eagled the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas field at Meydan, in Dubai.

Opera Ballo saw his odds slashed after an eye-catching victory at Kempton on February 26.

The son of former Godolphin powerhouse Ghaiyyath only made his racecourse debut at the Sunbury venue in late January but wasted no time in doubling his tally, producing a polished display over the mile to remain unbeaten in two starts.

In doing so, he is following the exact blueprint that trainer Charlie Appleby mapped out for last year’s 2000 Guineas winner, Notable Speech—winning his maiden before impressing in the European Road To The Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes. His four-length defeat of 28/1 outsider Hott Shott sent a clear signal to the bookmakers, who have swiftly shortened him for the first Classic of the season on May 3.

William Buick was full of praise for his mount on Racing TV. “He was very smooth. We weren’t entirely sure what to expect, as it looked a strong race with plenty of horses bringing solid form, but I was really pleased with him,” he said.

Arizona Blaze impressed at Dundalk on March 14, positioning himself as a contender. Trained by Adrian Murray, the Amo Racing-owned colt showed his class on his seasonal return, having been a consistent performer at two, including a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. With his trainer pleased by his progress, he will now target a Guineas trial to assess his stamina for longer distances ahead of a potential Classic campaign.

Boylesports Races

Betfred 2000 Guineas Stakes
(British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£525,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m, Class 1
56 remaining entries
Going:

NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Apr 01)
1 14 Advancing 3 9-2 James Ferguson
2 231- Aftermath 3 9-2 A P O'Brien
3 128-21 Al Qudra 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby
4 1113- Ancient Truth 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby
5 13143- Aomori City 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby
6 242-13 Arizona Blaze 3 9-2 Adrian Murray
7 1214- Benevento 3 9-2 Raphael E Freire
8 1150- Caburn 3 9-2 Jack Jones
9 2621-2 Camille Pissarro 3 9-2 A P O'Brien
10 21- Centigrade 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett
11 1- Convergent 3 9-2 K R Burke
12 1- Cosmic Year 3 9-2 Harry Charlton
13 77159- Cowardofthecounty 3 9-2 Joseph O'Brien
14 3- Crown Of Oaks 3 9-2 William Haggas
15 116- Detain 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden
16 12- Expanded 3 9-2 A P O'Brien
17 3114- Field Of Gold 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden
18 8-3 Great Dream 3 9-2 Simon & Ed Crisford
19 211- Green Impact 3 9-2 Mrs John Harrington
20 1-2 Gunship 3 9-2 James Ferguson
21 1251-1 Henri Matisse 3 9-2 A P O'Brien
22 11211- Hotazhell 3 9-2 Mrs John Harrington
23 31- Jolly Roger 3 9-2 Simon & Ed Crisford
24 16- Jonquil 3 9-2 1 Andrew Balding
25 2- Kaleido 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden
26 21-1 Marhaba Ghaiyyath 3 9-2 Charlie Johnston
27 151-11 Mi Bago 3 9-2 Mark Casse
28 5312-3 Mount Kilimanjaro 3 9-2 A P O'Brien
29 17- Nebras 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden
30 12114- New Century 3 9-2 Andrew Balding
31 51- Noble Champion 3 9-2 Ed Walker
32 11 Opera Ballo 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby
33 6- Raafedd 3 9-2 William Haggas
34 32122- Rashabar 3 9-2 Brian Meehan
35 15- Righthere Rightnow 3 9-2 Richard Spencer
36 1- Rogue Allegiance 3 9-2 David O'Meara
37 13-1 Ruling Court 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby
38 1- Sallaal 3 9-2 Roger Varian
NR Sarab Star 3 9-2 Jack Channon NON RUNNER
40 131- Scorthy Champ 3 9-2 Joseph O'Brien
41 1- Sea Baaeed 3 9-2 Richard Hughes
42 12340- Seagulls Eleven 3 9-2 Hugo Palmer
43 631-8 Serengeti 3 9-2 A P O'Brien
44 11211- Shadow Of Light 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby
45 1-2 Shameful 3 9-2 Clive Cox
46 1- Snow Master 3 9-2 Tom Dascombe
47 312- Stanhope Gardens 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett
48 11- The Lion In Winter 3 9-2 A P O'Brien
49 54310- The Waco Kid 3 9-2 Hugo Palmer
50 1-1 The Watcher 3 9-2 K R Burke
51 31- Tornado Alert 3 9-2 Saeed bin Suroor
52 1- Treble Tee 3 9-2 Simon & Ed Crisford
53 11- Tuscan Hills 3 9-2 Raphael E Freire
54 11- Twain 3 9-2 A P O'Brien
55 13213- Wimbledon Hawkeye 3 9-2 James Owen
56 1246- Wolf Of Badenoch 3 9-2 Hugo Palmer
57 201- Yah Mo Be There 3 9-2 Richard Spencer

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