StanJamesUK Guineas Festival
stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas Day - Round Up
Henrythenavigator - winner of the 200th running of the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas
IT WAS a finish to set the pulses racing into overdrive: it was a finish that was so fitting for the 200th renewal of one of the world’s greatest races - the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas.
Henrythenavigator and New Approach laying it down to one another in a pulsating climax to the famous Classic staged at the Home of Racing.
A slug-fest would be an unfair description of the two horses for both are as elegant as they are powerful. But it was an eye-ball to eye-ball encounter in the closing stages that only one would emerge victorious from.
In the end Henrythenavigator became the first horse ever to win a Guineas by a nose and it was a result that meant a hell of a lot to a lot of people.
For the stable groom Gerard Hoare who whooped with joy as he ran out on to the track to meet his equine hero. For Aidan O’Brien, winning a fifth - count’em - 2000 Guineas. And, not least, for Johnny Murtagh, in his first year as retained jockey to O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable.
Murtagh said: “I saw the furlong-marker and knew I had enough time to get there - I was just hoping the horse was good enough to get there. Fortunately, he was.
“He is a horse with a good turn of foot, loads of pace, and in the week I was worried about the rain - but the ground was lovely.
“It was a great race and great to win it. It’s a great start for me in what is a great job. I’m a very lucky jockey.”
O’Brien was repeatedly asked for a smile from the assembled photographers, desperate to capture the moment. But there was no doubt this was a hugely satisfying moment for the trainer, who inwardly must have been beaming.
He said: “I was worried beforehand because mine have been needing a run this season and we thought he would come on from this. He was only just ready to come racing today.”
The 11/1 winner is next likely to be seen in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the end of the month when he’ll renew rivalries with New Approach.
Full marks, too, to the 100/1 third Stubbs Art and the brave Raven’s Pass, who will surely prosper again when dropped back in trip.
If the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas was the highlight of the card, there was plenty of other classy action and quality winners.
Derby entry Kandahar Run shaped like a colt heading for the top of the three-year-old middle-distance ranks with an authoritative win in the stanjamesuk.com/casino Newmarket Stakes.
Trainer Henry Cecil said: “He quickened up well and I don’t think he was doing a lot in front. He thought he’d done enough.
“I’ve not made any plans but he’s in everything. He’ll stay a mile-and-a-half and is progressing.”
Heaven Sent confirmed she is a mare on the upgrade as she followed up a Listed win with a runaway victory in the Group 3 stanjamesuk.com Dahlia Stakes, staged over 1m 1f..
She quickened clear in decisive fashion to land odds of 6/4 for trainer Sir Michael Stoute and the Cheveley Park Stud, who are looking forward to being double-handed in tomorrow’s stanjamesuk.com 1000 Guineas.
Cheveley Park Stud director Chris Richardson said: “I was thinking more about mile options but a mile-and-
a-quarter looks within her grasp.”
Other winners on the day included the impressive Duntulm (Stan James 08000 383384 handicap), Off The Record (in the six-furlong stanjamesuk.com heritage handicap and Dr Faustus (the Stan James On Telextext 630).
By Tony Rushmer
Vive La France!
Natagora wins the StanJamesUK.com 1000 Guineas for France - picture by Steven Cargill
NATAGORA became the first French winner of the stanjamesuk.com 1000 Guineas in 16 years as she denied the late thrust of Spacious.
Christophe Lemaire excelled aboard the grey filly, tacking her across early from stall 13 to the stands rail from where she dominated.
They lined up to have a go at her in the closing strides and Lemaire admitted he was a little concerned in the closing strides.
But trainer Pascal Bary’s charge saw out the mile well to repel Spacious by half-a-length and Saoirse Abu by a further half-a-length, while Nahoodh was the unlucky horse back in fifth.
The race was won in a marginally quicker time than yesterday’s stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas and saw Natagora land her seventh victory and second Group 1 at Newmarket following success in the 2007 Cheveley Park Stakes.
Lemaire said: “It is another great victory for the Bary team and her owner Mr Stefan Friborg. He is very lucky to get such a good horse.
“Every time we ask her to do anything, she does it very well. We don’t know her limits yet.
“She jumped well form the gates, relaxed in front and I could go the speed I wanted. I didn’t want to make the running but everybody else knew Natagora was the favourite and wanted to sit behind her.
“But when a horse is good like that, you have to let them go. She is tough enough to run that kind of race.
“I was always in control. In the last furlong I was a little bit frightened because I could hear the hooves of other horses coming but she has done it beautifully.
“I am so glad to win my first English Classic. It really is something special.”
The French had been celebrating less than an hour earlier with Getaway confirming he is an older horse with a ton of ability in the Group 2 stanjamesuk.com Jockey Club Stakes.
A most imposing son of Monsun, he was fourth in last year’s Arc and on this evidence is sure to be a leading player in all the major mile-and-a-half races.
In imperious fashion he picked off last year’s Jockey Club Stakes winner Sixties Icon en route to emulating the achievements of former Fabre charge Shirocco.
After the 7/4 win, Fabre said: “The horse has trained on a lot from four to five and will improve for this run. The Coronation Cup, King George and Arc will be his main targets. He is a lovely mover with a good turn of foot.”
The day’s other Group race - the Stan James 08000 383384 Palace House Stakes - saw Captain Gerrard hand out a beating to his elders, including the last Darley July Cup winner Sakhee’s Secret.
The three-year-old battled hard to prevail by a neck, scoring at odds of 15/2.
Winning trainer Bryan Smart said: “That was very good performance. We may look at the Temple Stakes next and he could then go for the King’s Stand.”
The stanjamesuk.com Pretty Polly Stakes went the way of Saphira’s Fire, while Propenent got his career back on track with a solid triumph in the stanjamesuk.com/casino Suffolk Stakes handicap.
By Tony Rushmer