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Monday 2nd September 2019
   
Godolphin Have Strong Hand in 2000 Guineas Ante Post Betting

Sheikh Mohammed is the driving force behind Godolphin
“Sheikh Mohammed (right) is the driving force behind Godolphin”
by Ewamnacakanov (CC BY-SA 1.0)

The world famous all blue silks of Godolphin have staggeringly only been carried to victory once since 1999 in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. It’s a surprising stat about the first Classic of the British and Irish Flat season.
Sheikh Mohammed and his Godolphin operation aren’t exactly struggling, but come 2020 this relative drought in one of the biggest thoroughbred races in Europe may well end. While at the time of writing, there are still some nine months to go until the next running of the 2000 Guineas on the Rowley Mile, they have two clear contenders for Classic honours next year.

Pinatubo favourite after exploding on the scene

Godolphin have two as yet unbeaten and very exciting prospects by Shamardal. The first of which is the Charlie Appleby trained Pinatubo. Named after the infamous volcano on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, he progressed from a taking racecourse debut on the all-weather at Wolverhampton to follow-up in the Woodcote Stakes on Oaks day at Epsom.

After two successes over 6f, connections stepped Pinatubo up in class and trip for the Listed 7f Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was again impressive when trouncing Irish raider Lope Y Fernandez by over three lengths.

Pinatubo again took an upgrade in his stride when quickening clear and running on strongly in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. His five-length victory there was another major marker on the road to next year’s Classics.

As a 3/1 2000 Guineas ante post bet on horse racing with 888Sport, backers will want to see Pinatubo tackle Group 1 company in either the National Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend at The Curragh or the Dewhurst at Newmarket next.

He holds entries in both and there seems little point in running him under a penalty in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster during the St Leger Festival instead.

Earthlight shining bright in France as well

Also unbeaten is four runs is the Andre Fabre trained Earthlight. Like Pinatubo, this French based, Irish bred juvenile won two minor events before stepping into pattern company for a Group 3 at Deauville.
Earthlight was driven clear and scored readily by four lengths. That punched his ticket to the Group 1 Prix Morny also over 6f and he was running on at the finish while holding progressive Mark Johnston filly Raffle Prize by a neck.

This fourth victory completing a Deauville hat-trick was more comfortable for Earthlight than the winning margin suggests. He was giving dual Group 2 heroine Raffle Prize a 4lb sex allowance and beat a couple of other Royal Ascot winners – Coventry Stakes victor Arizona and Norfolk counterpart A’Ali – on going described as heavy.

Others in-behind clearly didn’t act on the rain softened ground, but Earthlight has won well on sounder surfaces before. An ante post quote of 10/1 for the 2000 Guineas reflects that Fabre talked him up as a Classic contender following the Morny success.

He often prefers to keep his horses racing in France rather than risk going over to the UK so early in the season. It’s clear that Earthlight will get further and the fact that Fabre favours Newmarket over the French Guineas at Longchamp at this stage looks significant.

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