2000 Guineas 2009

Ashrams just received a small boost.

Classy Syrinx from the Noseda stable (4th behind Ashram in the summer) just won an all ages handicap at Kempton.

Was well in on the weights but it’s a boost all the same

I like the look of Westphalia, had a bit of a mixed 2yr old campaign, but I honestly believe he could be the one to follow from a mile to longer distances.

JohnJ.

IMO Danehill dancers tend to make decent 2yos and his best usually hit their peak around the start of their 3yo season, but dont seem to do much after. They also thrive with cut under foot. Look at Speciosa , Fast Company (probably the best looking danehill dancer Ive seen), Indesatchel, Savethisdanceforme, Carribean Sunset, Gaspar Van Wittel etc

Many people compare Danehill Dancer with Danehill but he is nothing alike IMO. Danehills are usually best on a faster surface, where DDs are almost an exact opposite, and Danehill could knock up many a horse who could dominate not just their 2yo but 3yo seasons and sometimes beyond, Ive yet to see a DD do that.

Ive not really been hugely impressed by either of O’briens Danehill Dancers, Westphalia or Mastercraftsman but if the 2,000 guineas comes up with give in the ground then I would definitely give them a good chance, but wouldnt have them down to dominate 1 mile distances next season. Westphalias beating of Zacinto is IMO a better piece of form than anything RVW has done to date, but being by Galileo RVW should show better form in his 3yo season and AOB seems to think he’s special enough.

Of all the 2yos I saw last season Naqoos was the only one who IMO looked that little bit special, and looked like he has plenty of improvement about him too, will he come over, who knows? Arguably so too did Art Connoiseur for the early parts of the season before looking troublesome, would be good to see him make a return to form.

Zacinto would be my favorite in the 2000 guineas as he looks a guineas type through and through, should love the trip, have improvement and should lovfe any ground on the better side of good, its hard to see him missing it, and with stoutes tendency to put his out in a trial beforehand, I can see him very short on the day.

Giants Causeway dominated the early season 1mile races in 2005 with his first crop winning the 2000 guineas, Poulains, 2nd in 1000, and winning the St James Palace and Coronation Stakes. He hasnt had the same arsenal since but on that basis it would be foolish IMO to rule out a Jim Bolger trained Dewhurst winner in Intense focus, as although he never really looked special for most of last season, he seemed to be taking a liking for racing by the end there and is very much a serious contender IMO. Remember that Footstepsinthesand was barely even seen at 2yo.

This years Guineas looks wide open to me as everything stands, and who knows what AOB will release on the day, Henrythenavigator was hardly even considered seriously this time last year, by myself included.

There i that possibility Sal, there are exceptions to every rule in breeding (choisir especially), however I always bet against DDs on firm and bet with them with cut, and it almost always works. Admittedly Mastercraftsmans phoenix win was a bit of a kick in the nuts, but that was a strange race IMO and I didnt rate the form of it that strongly, as IMO the opposition failed to run their race. IMO a horse doesnt need perfect underfoot conditions to win, but usually a horse will only be at its best.

Ive noticed over the last few years especially, that at the start of almost every recent flat season in ireland there will usually appear to be danehill dancers winning everywhere, and to a lesser extent, so to in the UK, although in the UK there seems to be much more Pivotals opposing DDs quite well. Usually as soon as the better ground comes in, usually around may or so, you dont see much more from the danehill dancers that were all over their races early on.

Time will tell New York and he was voted 2yo of the year, but its just an opinion thing and he wouldnt be heavily fancied on my shortlist as everything stands and IMO it is a very open year, probably the most open since Footstepsinthesands and Haafhds wins.

I think it’s terribly politically charged, but since Ashram joins Godolphin, it is my obligation to bin him.

And it is a real disappointment. He’s currently trading at 40s somewhere and that is great insurance if a hotpots like Mastercraftsman, Zacinto, Arazan fail.

I could almost side Ashram alongside Rip Van Winkle as "untapped performances" in the Dewhurst. If you rule a line through the race entirely, the Somerville Tattersall was a complete procession. So devastating.

Anyway, I came here to bump this thread up the order and question – why is Evasive so short???

I feel in the dark going into this years 2000 Guineas, Naqoos looks the type to improve though his sires lack abilty too get a mile is a major worry, he looks unfurnished at two, but he might well stay in France…

Intense Focuss should he is his fathers son in the Dewhurst, whether he will improve from two too three remains too be seen. Rip Van Winkle looks a Derby horse, he looks allot like his sire who was a two yearold..

ZACINTO OUT OF THE 2,000 GUINEAS!!!!!!!

ARGHHHH CRAP! … I was looking forward to him.

Mind you, Crowded House is the horse that I can’t wait to see again.