Qipco 2000 Guineas
Group 1, Newmarket 15:35
£375,000 added,
3yo only,
1m, Class 1  
Saturday 1st May 2021

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1 Poetic Flare 16/1
2 Master Of The Seas 6/1
3 Lucky Vega 12/1
14 ran NR: Albadri Distances: shd, nk, 2½l
Time: 1m 35.69s (fast by 0.41s)

Poetic Flare, Master Of The Seas and third home Lucky Vega had the first colts' Classic between them down the centre of the track and the winner showed tremendous resolution in the finish.

Master Of The Seas threw everything at the winner but it came down to the bob and Poetic Flare had his head down where it mattered.

The front-running Naval Crown was fourth with nothing else threatening to get involved in the final quarter of a mile.

Winning jockey Kevin Manning told ITV Racing: “It’s a great training performance. He’s done nothing wrong all along this horse, he was impressive in his trial at Leopardstown and he’d come forward from that. I really fancied him. He’s just a proper horse. I really thought whatever beat him might win.”

Trainers Quotes

Speaking from his County Carlow base, Bolger, 79, who also bred the winner, said: “I thought he was beaten! It’s a big day for us, right up there with the best we’ve had.

“He wasn’t ready for the Dewhurst last year. I thought he was a little bit fitter than he was and I was hoping he’d run a big race and get the experience of running at that level. He ran out of wind about a furlong and a half down, but we were very pleased in the run and didn’t lose faith in him.

“I’m not too concerned about him getting further in time. Kevin did say in the interview on TV that he thought he’d stay 10 furlongs, but at the moment I’m not thinking about going anywhere except the mile.

“He has buckets of speed and I even entered him in the Commonwealth Cup in the unlikely event that he didn’t stay, as he’s that quick and you always have some doubts about whether the very quick ones will stay or not. The St James’s Palace would definitely be on the cards.”

He added: “It’s a wonderful day. In our case it’s fairly necessary with the way I do things! It very much carries on that Dawn Approach line, and I have two half-sisters of Poetic Flare as well.”

Charlie Appleby was proud of Master Of The Seas in defeat

He said: “When they went past the line I thought we’d got beat and someone said ‘no, you’ve won’, so I thought I better sit tight.

“He’s run a great race and backed up his performance in the Craven.

“He travelled lovely through the race and two furlongs down I thought ‘we’re in with a real shout here’.

“He’s picked up well up the hill, but so has Jim Bolger’s horse and well done to him and his team.

“Ascot (St James’s Palace) will be the most likely target for him, but I’ll speak to connections.”

Appleby also saddled the fourth in Naval Crown and the sixth One Ruler.

He added: “Naval Crown ran a hell of a race. I was always confident he’d run a big race, stepping back up to the mile.

“James (Doyle) said One Ruler wants a trip and a bit easier ground, so we may look at putting him on the Derby squad.”

Trainers Quotes

Jessica Harrington was equally pleased with Lucky Vega.

She said: “I’m delighted with him. He ran a great race and proved he stays.

“He’s a relaxed horse and just a little bit fresh. Shane (Foley) said he didn’t come down the hill very well, but he stayed well and he said he was coming back at them with every stride.

“He’s in the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace, so they are nice options to have.

“I’ve also got Cadillac, who is meant to be going to the Irish Guineas.

“It’s fantastic to have the two of them. We might have to run them against each other later in the year, although Cadillac might get further – he’s from more of a staying family.”

None of Aidan O’Brien’s trio were ever involved, while Thunder Moon was among the first beaten.

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Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes
(British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£375,000 added, 3yo only, 1m, Class 1
14 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (4)     Poetic Flare 3 9-0 J S Bolger Kevin Manning 16/1
2 (2) shd Master Of The Seas 3 9-0 Charlie Appleby William Buick 6/1
3 (3) nk Lucky Vega 3 9-0 Mrs John Harrington Shane Foley 12/1
4 (11) 2½ Naval Crown 3 9-0 Charlie Appleby Adam Kirby 50/1
5 (14) 1¼ Chindit 3 9-0 Richard Hannon Pat Dobbs 12/1
6 (7) ¾ One Ruler 3 9-0 Charlie Appleby James Doyle 10/1
7 (12) ¾ Mutasaabeq 3 9-0 Charles Hills Jim Crowley 6/1
8 (9) 1¼ Van Gogh 3 9-0 A P O'Brien Seamie Heffernan 20/1
9 (5) 2 Legion Of Honour 3 9-0 Roger Varian David Egan 80/1
10 (13) 9 Mystery Smiles 3 9-0 Andrew Balding Silvestre De Sousa 66/1
11 (8) nk Wembley 3 9-0 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 13/2
12 (1) nk Devilwala 3 9-0 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 100/1
13 (15) 1½ Battleground 3 9-0 A P O'Brien Frankie Dettori 9/2F
14 (10) 3½ Thunder Moon 3 9-0 Joseph O'Brien Declan McDonogh 11/2
NR 1 Albadri 3 9-0 Jane Chapple-Hyam NON RUNNER

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