Pathfork primed for big run in 2000 Guineas
The nerves are jangling, a little sharp, but I travelled to Newmarket yesterday having heard from Eamonn that Pathfork and Laughing Lashes had both settled in well and that was a relief. They’ve made it now and I can’t do anymore.
This is different to bringing the likes of Moscow Flyer, Mac’s Joy, Oscars Wells and Bostons Angel to Cheltenham, not so much because I’m chasing my first Classic and have live contenders in two of them, but because I know Cheltenham like the back of my hand. I’ve only been racing in Newmarket once since they rebuilt it and don’t really know where anything is. I don’t like not being familiar with a place as I’ll be out of my comfort zone. You end up having to think about things where in other places they’re second nature. Where do I go? How do I get there? But I’ll survive.
To have two in contention is amazing and we’re looking forward to it. Everything has gone smoothly from last year. It was always the plan not to give them a prep run. Maybe I’m wrong or maybe I’m right but it’s not unusual to go to the Newmarket Guineas without a run. I know Frankel had a prep but they said he needed it. Half the horses taking part have had one, half of them haven’t.
I think I have my two as fit and ready as I can. They’ll run their races and we’ll see where they finish at the end of that. They both have American owners who will want them to run in the Breeders’ Cup in November so that will make it a very long season for them as it is. This is still early on in the flat campaign so you have to be careful. If I would have given them a prep run, I would have had to have them in three weeks earlier. So given their likely targets after this weekend, that was something we wanted to avoid.
The 2000 Guineas will have a good early pace because Frankel has a pacemaker. We’ve got a very good draw between Frankel and Roderic O’Connor as long as we don’t cut each other’s throats. Frankel looks amazing, he’s odds on and he deserves to be, but Pathfork will be in there fighting all the way to the line.
Laughing Lashes has been overshadowed by Pathfork a bit but she has a big chance too, although the 1000 Guineas is a much more open race. She has progressed well from last year. She’s a massive filly who even makes Pathfork look small and it was surprising how well she did last year.
Moonlight Cloud, Misty For Me, Hooray, Memory and Havant are all top fillies but Laughing Lashes is very genuine. She won’t get knocked around in the race because of her size, she tries very hard and stays very well.
Blaze Brightly and Crystal Morning both won in Tipperary on Thursday, and along with the five winners in the week and a half before that, they represent a significant boost as the horses are clearly running well. A few didn’t shine last weekend alright but the heavy rain was the reason for that.
I was delighted with Roberto Goldback winning in Cork and he deserved that having been close a few times. He enjoyed the three miles and will go for the Gold Cup now in Punchestown. Punchestown is always a huge meeting for us as it’s our local track and is the best jumps racing of the year in Ireland. But the Guineas races have reduced them to a bit of a footnote here.
It doesn’t look like Oscars Well will make it as he’s just a bit flat since Cheltenham, while Chaperoned won’t run either as she is sore after taking a very bad fall at the second last when going to win at Fairyhouse. She has a very bright future though.
It would be nice to have a few winners and there are a few with opportunities. Gimli’s Rock and Dreamy Gent both run in a handicap hurdle on Tuesday and would have a very good chance, while I will also be expecting good runs from the bumper horses.
Tomorrow, apart from Laughing Lashes, I have two runners at Gowran. Feng Su is my first two-year-old runner of the season. I have a nice crop of two-year-olds this year and have high hopes for them but you’re never really sure until they’ve had a run. This is a nice Antonius Pius colt though and I would be hopeful he goes well.
Banksters Bonus is up against a good horse of Aidan’s, High Ruler, but it’s his first run this year and you have to start somewhere.
