Thursday 30th April 2009
Meehan all set with Delegator
Delegator - joint favourite for The stanjames.com 2000 Guineas
A fascinating renewal of The stanjames.com 2000 Guineas is in prospect following the final declaration stage for the opening Classic of the season run over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on Saturday, May 2.
In total, 17 horses have been declared for the £426,000 Group One event including four trained in Ireland. Jointly heading the market at 7/2 with Stan James is Delegator, the impressive winner of the Group Three banshahousestables.com Craven Stakes at Newmarket on April 16.
Delgator’s trainer Brian Meehan outlined that he has been very satisfied with the colt’s final preparation.
Meehan said: " We are more than happy with the draw (15) he has been given. He has some fancied horses drawn around him and that was just what we were looking for.
"He went five furlongs this morning in what was an easy piece and he went every bit as well as we had hoped. Everything has gone according to plan so far and the horse must have a great chance."
Rip Van Winkle, winner of his first two starts last season before finishing seventh in the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 18, is the other 7/2 joint-favourite with Stan James. His trainer, Aidan O’Brien, is seeking a sixth success in the 2000 Guineas following on from King Of Kings (1998), Rock Of Gibraltar (2002), Footstepsinthesand (2005), George Washington (2006) and Henrythenavigator (2008). The Galileo colt will be partnered by Ballydoyle’s number one jockey, Johnny Murtagh, who was aboard both Rock Of Gibraltar and Henrythenavigator.
O’Brien will also be represented by 9/2 chance Mastercraftsman, the mount of Pat Smullen. Heading the Newmarket challenge will be Evasive, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and successful in two of his three starts last season including the Group Three Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury. Stoute is also pursuing a sixth success in The stanjames.com 2000 Guineas after scoring with Shadeed (1985), Doyoun (1988), Entrepreneur (1997), King’s Best (2000) and Golan (2001).
