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Broox Primed to Oppose Frankel in QIPCO 2000 Guineas
29/04/11

Eoghan O’Neill went close to QIPCO 2000 Guineas glory four years ago when he saddled 33/1 shot Vital Equine to finish runner-up behind Cockney Rebel and the French-based Irishman has another talented outsider for this year’s running of the £350,000 Classic in the shape of Broox.

Frankel
© Racehorse Photos

The Xaar colt is one of 13 declared for the 203rd running of the Classic, staged over a mile at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Course on Saturday, 30th April, and which was won last year by French raider Makfi.

Last season’s unbeaten joint European champion juvenile Frankel, trained by Henry Cecil, remains a hot favourite for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas (3.10pm).

Broox was a high-class two-year-old last term, winning the Group Three Prix d’Arenberg over six furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte in September. That victory followed a fourth placing behind Dream Ahead in the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville in August and a runner-up finish in the Group Two Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte in July.

O’Neill’s charge is out of a half-sister to Group One-winning sprinter Mr Brooks but O’Neill is not fazed by the step up to a mile for his charge, whose sire was fourth in the 1998 2000 Guineas and stayed 10 furlongs at the highest level.

The trainer, based close to Le Mans, revealed today: “Broox seems fine and he is ready to go. We are confident that he will stay the mile. We galloped him over the mile and that is not a worry but we are not confident that he will beat Frankel.

“His sire, Xaar, was the Frankel of 13 years ago. He was a very warm favourite for the 2000 Guineas and got turned over.

“Broox is a Group Three winner, he is Group Two placed and he was fourth to Dream Ahead in a Group One so he deserves to be there. From his two-year-old form, you would say the trip might be a question but his pedigree says he will get a mile and the way we have trained him all spring we think he will get a mile.

“The run at Deauville behind Dream Ahead was on a ploughed field. It was desperate and he didn’t like it - he didn’t pick up on it. He won twice before that at Chantilly on fast ground and he won at Maisons-Laffitte in September on fast ground. The quicker the better for him and that is why he is going to Newmarket and not staying in France.”

Like Vital Equine before him, Broox is having his first start of the season in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.

Also among the declared runners are Godolphin’s Group One Racing Post Trophy winner Casamento, and the same owner’s Group Two Champagne Stakes winner Saamidd.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Roderic O’Connor landed the Group One Criterium International at Saint Cloud after finishing runner-up to Frankel in the Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last season.

Native Khan
© racing-images.co.uk

The unbeaten Jessica Harrington-trained Pathfork beat Casamento to win the Group One Vincent O’Brien National Stakes in September, while Native Khan from the Ed Dunlop stable won the Group Three Breeze-Up Vendors Craven Stakes over the QIPCO 2000 Guineas course and distance last time.

The remaining declared runners are Listed winner Dubawi Gold, unbeaten £500,000 Tattersalls Millions 2-Y-O Trophy victor Fury, Listed Blue Square Feilden Stakes runner-up Happy Today, course winner Loving Spirit, Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes hero Rerouted and Slim Shadey.

The fantastic first day of the two-day QIPCO Guineas Festival also features the £80,000 Group Two QIPCO Jockey Club Stakes (2.30pm) over a mile and a half.

Group One winner Campanologist heads six entries that include Laaheb, Monitor Closely, Native Ruler and the in-form James Given-trained pair of Dandino and Indian Days.

A total of 15 horses are set to line up for the five-furlong £50,000 Group Three Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes (3.45pm), including Group One Nunthorpe Stakes winners Sole Power and Borderlescott, as well as the flying filly Astrophysical Jet.

THE 2000 GUINEAS (THE 203rd RUNNING)

Class 1, Group 1, Total Prize fund £350,000. 3.10pm, Newmarket, Saturday, April 30, 2011, one mile. For three-year-olds only, entire colts and fillies. Weights: colts 9st, fillies 8st 11lb. Entries closed March 1, entries released March 3 (52 entries), Scratchings deadline noon, April 19 (20 remained). Five-day confirmation and £30,000 supplementary stage noon, April 25 (15 remained). Final declaration stage 10.00am, April 28 (13 declarations). Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up and including the racing of Wednesday, April 27, 2011. May not include some overseas form.

Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

13 entries remain after final declarations

2 Irish-trained

1 French-trained