The Home of Racing

The StanJamesUK Guineas Festival – ‘a wonderful two days’

Two days of simply stunning racing at the StanJamesUK Guineas Festival produced a series of impressive winners – not least Henrythenavigator and Natagora.

The pair became the latest horses to etch an indelible mark into racing’s history books, having secured respective Guineas victories.

Getaway, too, seriously enhanced his stock with a power-packed display in the stanjamesuk.com Jockey Club Stakes.

But let’s start with the 200^th running of the stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas. New Approach was sent off the favourite with both Ibn Khaldun and Raven’s Pass strongly fancied.

In the end, though, it was last year’s Coventry Stakes winner Henrythenavigator – almost a forgotten horse in the big-race build-up – who took the honours.

Henrythenavigator and New Approach battle out for victory. Picture by Trevor Jones

Sent off an 11/1 chance for trainer Aidan O’Brien, he was given an inspired ride by Johnny Murtagh.

The jockey timed his challenge to perfection on the son of Kingmambo, surging to hit the front from New Approach inside the final furlong and then holding the late, late rally of that rival. In doing so, he became the first horse ever to win a 2000 Guineas by a nose.

Picture by Steve Cargill

O’Brien reflected: “It was a masterful ride from Johnny, who waited and played the horse to all his strengths. He was very confident and super strong.”

It was a case of ‘Vive La France’ on the Sunday as first Getaway roared away to score for trainer Andre Fabre in the stanjamesuk.com Jockey Club Stakes – then, it was the turn of Natagora.

Five years after trainer Pascal Bary experienced the disappointment of coming second in the fillies’ Classic on The NatWest Rowley Mile, he was able to savour the sweet taste of success thanks to his flying grey.

C P Lemaire congratulates the winning filly, Natagora. Picture by Steve Cargill.

She made virtually every yard in the hands of Christophe Lemaire, whose love affair with Newmarket continued. In his last 13 rides on The NatWest Rowley Mile he has now recorded an astonishing five Group 1 wins.

But this was more about the filly than him. She showed a great cruising speed and admirable guts in defying the late challenges of Spacious and Saoirse Abu.

Perhaps Nahoodh, who suffered a troubled passage, may have won given different circumstances. But this was Natagora’s day – not to mention the legion of punters who backed her into 11/4 favouritism.

Natagora's winning connections recieve their trophies. Picture by Steve Cargill.

An admiring Bary said: “Not only does Natagora have speed but she is brave.”

There were other memorable performances over the two days with three-year-old Captain Gerrard delivering a blow for the younger sprinters as he took the Palace House Stakes, sponsored by Stan James, from Sakhee’s Secret, who will surely take all the beating once more in the Darley July Cup.

Looking back on two magical days, Newmarket Racecourses managing director Stephen Wallis said: “It was a wonderful two days with new heroes and champions being created at The Home of Racing.”