2000 Guineas 2014

Australia is short enough for this now surely. Won over a mile as a 2 year old but pedigree would suggest he will be better over further and I can see a few having more gears over the trip to see him off.

Australia is short enough for this now surely. Won over a mile as a 2 year old but pedigree would suggest he will be better over further and I can see a few having more gears over the trip to see him off.

Australia is as low as 3/1 now Nathan. I think that is appalling value based on a maiden win and a 4 runner group 3 win.

If you believe the official ratings he only needs to find 5lb with top rated Toormore but I have watched Australia three times and seen little evidence he has the pace for a 2000 Guineas unless the mud arrives.

In a 4 runner race over a mile he was pushed along in last place before coming to mow down a weak looking Free Eagle who had spent a short time at the top of the "Next Pegasus" charts before flopping spectacularly at odds of 2/5. He’ll have to face faster horses than that at Newmarket but, of course, he has the great advantage of being the latest "Best horse I have ever trained" to go through the hands of The Listener.

I see Kingman may have a prep race for the 2000 but it cannot be coincidence that Gosden has never won the 2000 Guineas and the horse has plenty to prove still. He’s a lay for me at 4/1 with William Hill.

I am happy with Toormore at 20/1 and see him as coming into the season with a more encouraging looking line of form than Toronado possessed last season.

I notice a wee Guineas tickle on Willie Haggas’ Irtijaal, who was beaten a neck by Toormore on his debut, where the pair pulled seven lengths clear of the remainder. Irtijaal hosed in next time but is rated some 24lbs behind Toormore, which, based on a neck defeat, has the potential to be nonsense now. I have marked him as one to keep an eye on this year but would question his Guineas credentials when considering his entry in the Spring Cup at Lingfield on Saturday.

I’m not sure Australia will end up at Newmarket. I would have thought that war command will be coolmores no1 at Newmarket. I can see Australia doing the derby trial route. Australia’s form through kingfisher certainly in my eyes sees him a worthy favourite for the derby especially as his pedigree screams 12f. Btw I think outstrip looks the best value to me for the guineas.

Just looked at tickets for this and they seem very reasonable (£20 for grandstand and £36 for Premier Enclosure), does anyone who’s been know what the difference is between the two? I’m happy to spend the £36 as imo that’s great value for a big days racing.

Cheaper option is fine, just not able to get up close to the finishing line. Premier gives access to Millenium Grandstand bar and seating but as you can imagine it does get busy on 2000 Guineas day.

You would expect any juvenile with a list of honours including the Coventry, Futurity and Dewhurst Stakes to be a warm winter favourite for the 2000 Guineas.

War Command

, with just one defeat last campaign, is available at 8/1.

He won the Coventry Stakes by 6L, and we have seen in recent years a plethora of top class individuals emerge from that contest. Parbold – further placed in the Vintage and Gimcrack Stakes, and Sir John Hawkins – beaten a combined total of 3L in two further Group races, were well and truly hammered that day.

A notable colt was held in third during War Command’s Dewhurst success. Outstrip’s Newmarket defeat was complimented either side with victories in the Champagne Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, respectively.

It is perhaps no surprise that War Command continues to be underestimated. His SP st Royal Ascot was an astonishing 20/1 and many punters are clearly seduced by the impeccable breeding of stablemate, Australia. The Galileo colt has been hailed as ‘the best horse we’ve ever had’ by Aiden O’Brien – an annual quote, and second only to ‘Listen’, in the Coolmore vocabulary and quotataions booklet.

Toormore

has looked promising since his debut, where he and recent Spring Cup winner Ertijaal pulled 7L clear of the third. His two subsequent victories, including the National Stakes, boasted victories over the likes of Outstrip, Parbold, Sudirman and Giovanni Boldini.

He was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile, where connections described him as ‘a horse for next year’. He is sure to have improved over the winter and is also available at 8/1.

"the best horse I ever trained bar one" He said.

Aiden talks a good game.
‘listen, listen, listen’
I forget everything he says after about five minutes.

"the best horse I ever trained bar one" He said.

Lucky man. He seems to get a new incumbent of the ‘best horse I have ever trained’ title every season.

Toormore was always going to run in one or the other, I thought they might go to the Greenham with him but I suppose it makes sense to run in the Craven like Hannon said it will give him the experience of the dip. There’s no doubting he’ll get the mile as he won over at the Curragh at 7f and again was doing his best work at the business end of the race and the Curragh is quite a stiff track.
What do you reckon Steve 3/1 2nd fav after the Craven?