Tuesday 28th April 2009
Ouqba to take Guineas chance
Ouqba - successful at Craven meeting
CONNECTIONS of recent Newmarket winner Ouqba have supplemented the Barry Hills-trained colt at a cost of £30,000 for the £426,000 stanjames.com 2000 Guineas for the mile Classic on Saturday, May 2.
The son of Red Ransom took a novice stakes on the July Course last year and returned to Newmarket for his seasonal debut at the Craven Meeting on April 15, when he comfortably won the Listed European Free Handicap.
Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, commented: “Barry Hills originally felt that the horse wasn’t up to winning The stanjames.com 2000 Guineas so he wasn’t given an entry and there was always a question mark about his stamina.
“But he won the European Free Handicap in good style and he had plenty of racing last year so he’s experienced. Richard Hills rode him the other day and feels that he will stay the trip.
“It’s hard to tell with the form because quite a few horses haven’t run this season, but at this moment, The stanjames.com 2000 Guineas looks a very open race. I think that Sheikh Hamdan felt that he would like another string to his bow and I think that Ouqba could easily be in the frame on Saturday.”
Race sponsors Stan James rate the colt as a 25/1 shot as he bids to follow in the footsteps of Haafhd, who represented the same owner/trainer combination when winning the first Classic of the season in 2004.
Meanwhile, locally-based trainer Alan Bailey is confident that Aspen Darlin can acquit herself well in The stanjames.com 1000 Guineas on Sunday May 3.
The daughter of Indian Haven, a 50/1 chance with Stan James, is set to return to Newmarket after coming second to fellow Classic hopeful Lahaleeb in the Group Two Countrywide Steel & Tubes Rockfel Stakes on Champions’ Day in October.
In a productive juvenile campaign, she also filled the runner-up spot behind another stanjames.com 1000 Guineas contender, Serious Attitude, in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes at the Cambridgeshire Meeting, having landed the Group Three Firth of Clyde Stakes at Ayr two weeks earlier.
Bailey revealed: “Aspen Darlin is on course for The stanjames.com 1000 Guineas. She’s very well in herself but she’s a little filly who doesn’t tell us much at home - she was the same last season - and she only ever does just enough on the gallops.
“It looks like it’s going to be a very hot renewal this year but she will not disgrace herself on Sunday and she will go in any ground, so we will have no excuses on that score.”
