Monday 30th April 2007
Teofilo heads 30 contenders for the Stan James 2000 Guineas
Teofilo pictured above winning the 2006 Darley Dewhurst Stakes
TEOFILO heads 30 contenders for the £350,000 Group One Stan James 2000 Guineas at Newmarket following today’s confirmation stage.
The unbeaten Jim Bolger-trained colt suffered a minor training setback recently but last year’s European champion two-year-old, winner of the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs of the NatWest Rowley Mile course in October, is primed to take on all-comers in the mile Classic on Saturday, May 5.
He is the 9/4 market leader with Stan James while Adagio, who caused a stir in the Stan James 2000 Guineas market when winning the Group Three banshahousestables.com Craven Stakes over the course and distance in a quick time on April 19, is at 3/1.
Adagio and stable companion Al Shemali (66/1) will bid to give Newmarket trainer Sir Michael Stoute his sixth victory in the Newmarket Classic.
French challenger US Ranger was today supplemented as expected. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt is unbeaten in four starts and was impressive when winning the Listed Prix Djebel over seven furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte on April 11.
He is priced at 6/1 with Stan James, alongside Major Cadeaux who looked a colt of Classic-winning potential when handing a three and a half length beating to the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Dutch Art in the Group Three Lane’s End Greenham Stakes at Newbury on April 21.
Richard Hannon, responsible for Major Cadeaux, has trained three winners of the Stan James 2000 Guineas (Mon Fils 1973, Don’t Forget Me 1987, Tirol 1990) and the handler has also left in banshahousestables.com Craven Stakes runner-up Sonny Red (66/1).
Dutch Art (14/1), undefeated in four starts at two and the impressive winner of the Group One Shadwell Middle Park Stakes on the NatWest Rowley Mile in September, will bid to follow in the footsteps of the Chapple-Hyam-trained Rodrigo de Triano who was beaten in the Newbury trial before triumphing in the 1992 Stan James 2000 Guineas.
The Paul Cole-trained Strategic Prince (10/1), successful in the Group Two TNT July Stakes on the July Course at Newmarket last season, also goes forward, as does the Brian Meehan-trained Diamond Tycoon (8/1) who blitzed his rivals when successful in a Newbury mile maiden on April 21.
Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor has declared maiden winners Truly Royal (25/1) and Mofaarij (66/1), while Aidan O’Brien is responsible for Mount Nelson (20/1), who landed the Group One Criterium International at Saint Cloud in October (with stable companion Yellowstone (66/1) in third), Group Two winner Eagle Mountain (50/1) and the classy Duke Of Marmalade (28/1).
Others to go forward include the Kevin Prendergast-trained Haatef (12/1) , fourth in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, Group Two winners Halicarnassus (66/1) and Vital Equine (40/1), Prime Defender (66/1), winner of the Listed Sporting Index European Free Handicap at the NatWest Rowley Mile on April 18, from Tobosa (33/1), and the well-regarded Cockney Rebel (20/1), from the Newmarket yard of Geoff Huffer.
South African trainer Mike de Kock has declared the former Irish-trained Drayton (100/1) who was a respectable fourth behind older rivals in the Listed Al Quoz Sprint over six furlongs at Nad Al Sheba in March, and worked on the NatWest Rowley Mile on Saturday morning.
Finsceal Beo is among 25 fillies declared at today’s six-day confirmation stage for the £350,000 Group One Stan James 1000 Guineas, which takes place at Newmarket on Sunday, May 6.
The Jim Bolger-trained filly won three of five starts last term including the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac Royal Barriere de Deauville at Longchamp and the Group Two Rockfel Stakes on the NatWest Rowley Mile.
Finsceal Beo is an even hotter favourite at 13/8 with the sponsors than stable companion Teofilo is in the Stan James 2000 Guineas. Irish-based Bolger is aiming to emulate Aidan O’Brien’s feat of winning both Guineas two years ago.
Jeremy Noseda has declared Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile winner Simply Perfect (16/1) alongside Sander Camillo (4/1), who was surprisingly beaten by the John Dunlop-trained Scarlet Runner (12/1) when second in the Group Three Shadwell Nell Gwyn Stakes at the course on April 18.
The Tim Pitt-trained Blue Rocket (25/1) was third that day and reopposes, as do three other beaten fillies, Kaseema (25/1), Barshiba (50/1) and Fantasy Parkes (100/1).
The Michael Jarvis-trained Yaqeen (6/1) impressed when winning a seven-furlong maiden on the NatWest Rowley Mile on April 19, while the John Oxx-trained Arch Swing (16/1) maintained her unbeaten status when winning the Dimitrova 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on April 7.
Group One Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes winner Indian Ink (14/1), trained by Richard Hannon, is set to take her chance in the fillies’ Classic, while Mick Channon has declared Treat (33/1) and Sweet Lilly (33/1).
Miss Beatrix (14/1) and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Theann (33/1) complete an Irish-trained quartet, while the likely French raider is Magic America (12/1), who is trained by Criquette Head-Maarek who already won the Classic three times.
The two-day Stan James Guineas Festival also features the £90,000 Group Two StanJamesUK.com Jockey Club Stakes over a mile and a half on Sunday, May 6, and there is a high-class potential field of seven left after today’s confirmation stage headed by the Jeremy Noseda-trained St Leger hero Sixties Icon.
The race could also see the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Group Two King Edward VII Stakes winner Papal Bull, the Andre Fabre-trained Linda’s Lad, last season’s Group Two Dante Stakes winner Septimus from the Aidan O’Brien yard, Admiral’s Cruise, Munsef and Mighty.
The feature sprint of the two-day meeting is the five-furlong £50,000 Group Three Stan James Palace House Stakes on Sunday, May 6, which has 12 entries including last season’s third Tax Free, as well as Group Two winner Celtic Mill, Peace Offering and Group Three winner Presto Shinko.
The £50,000 Group Three StanJamesUK.com Dahlia Stakes over nine furlongs, happens on Saturday, May 5 and has nine entries.
The fillies’ contest features the dual Group Three winner Echelon, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, as well as the progressive Godophin filly, Abhisheka, and the Group Two placed Litalia.
