1000 & 2000 Guineas review.

1000 Guineas

I’ll save the best until last, so let’s review the 1000 guineas first. The fillies’ race was much more open in comparison to the colts’ version – the 2000 guineas. The winner, Blue Bunting, was sent off at 16/1; quite a large price considering Frankie was on board and the theme of bunting from the Royal Wedding street parties. It was a brilliant run from the outsider, but the race may have been all so different if Memory, the second favourite had started with the rest. Memory was being a plain, old, naughty filly; she planted her self in the stalls and just didn’t want to go with the rest of them. By the time Richard Hughes got her out and going the race was long gone, she had no chance, let’s hope she changes her attitude to the stalls, we don’t want another naughty Sariska! It was a great ride by Frankie Dettori and he was clearly delighted with Blue Bunting’s victory and said,

“That felt great! It was a pleasant surprise. The lads had been telling me she was working well, but honestly, she had a lot to prove on form. It's fantastic as I haven't won a Classic for a while and I'm based here in Newmarket. This is my home town.

"The wind was very strong, but we had fresh legs at the end. I'm delighted for the Godolphin team. Mahmood told me she was more of an Oaks filly, so whatever she was going to do today was a bonus. To win is fantastic."

It was Frankie’s 14 classic victory in Britain, but only new Godolphin trainer, Mahmood Al Zarooni’s first. He was also delighted by the way the race went, 

"To win a Classic in England isn't like anywhere else in the world. It's a different taste, especially in Newmarket. You've got the best horses and the best trainers here, it's not easy to win the big races."

Next stop for her is the Oaks at Epsom in June.  

2000 Guineas

One word. Frankel. What a performance by the horse! I have now dubbed him as Frankel the Freak as it was a freakishly good performance on Saturday. There were still a lot of Frankel doubters before the race, but I am sure the have been banished now. He absolutely annihilated the field, Rerouted, who was Frankel’s so called pacemaker, was never in front of him. Tom Queally and the monster of a horse just took off, never to be caught. People watching it must have been thinking, “He can’t keep this up, can he? Surely not?”, well he did and he did it in style, the rest of the field were made to look like donkeys, certainly not group 1s. The Newmarket crowds were already cheering him at the 2 furlong pole. Both jockey Tom Queally and legendary trainer Henry Cecil – who surely should have been knighted by now – were full of admiration for their superstar. It’s between the Derby at Epsom and St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot for Frankel next. I’d personally love to see him in the Derby, but it could be a hard task getting him to settle and not bolt! 

Hannah.