Irish 2000 Guineas
- Thread starter Harbinger
- Start date
An interesting question. Going into the race I thought Arazan was the main hope and Kinane seemed to be being set up for Arazan rather than STS.
It's unlikely they will compete against each other as they want very different going.
I'm very sweet on Arazan. I'm also very sweet on STS (and even more so since Saturday).
Delegator could bid for Group One glory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot after finishing second in the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas.
The Craven Stakes winner found only Irish raider Sea The Stars too strong in the colts' Classic at Newmarket on Saturday.
"We knew that Delegator was a top-class horse, and he proved us right with his performance in the Guineas," said the Manton handler.
"He was beaten by a very good horse on the day and we have no complaints.
"No future plans have been finalised and he has come out of the race very well.
"It may be that the Irish Guineas may come a little too quick. After all, there was only a two-week gap between the Craven and the Guineas.
"We shall see how we go, but I would think the St James's Palace would be next on the agenda. It would be nice to see a drop of rain for the Royal meeting.
"I felt the fast ground at Newmarket was just against him in the closing stages on Saturday, and his ability to quicken would be helped by a slightly easier surface," the trainer told www.brianmeehanatmanton.com.
The Craven Stakes winner found only Irish raider Sea The Stars too strong in the colts' Classic at Newmarket on Saturday.
"We knew that Delegator was a top-class horse, and he proved us right with his performance in the Guineas," said the Manton handler.
"He was beaten by a very good horse on the day and we have no complaints.
"No future plans have been finalised and he has come out of the race very well.
"It may be that the Irish Guineas may come a little too quick. After all, there was only a two-week gap between the Craven and the Guineas.
"We shall see how we go, but I would think the St James's Palace would be next on the agenda. It would be nice to see a drop of rain for the Royal meeting.
"I felt the fast ground at Newmarket was just against him in the closing stages on Saturday, and his ability to quicken would be helped by a slightly easier surface," the trainer told www.brianmeehanatmanton.com.
Harbinger
At the Start
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2004
- Messages
- 11,282
No it f***ing wouldn't! Royal Ascot should be (and is, in my head at least!) synonymous with lovely sunny weather and the fast ground that goes with it. If your horse can't cope with that, don't aim him at it... in any case, they couldn't make the Ascot straight soft even if they wanted to
No it f***ing wouldn't! Royal Ascot should be (and is, in my head at least!) synonymous with lovely sunny weather and the fast ground that goes with it. If your horse can't cope with that, don't aim him at it... in any case, they couldn't make the Ascot straight soft even if they wanted to
Indeed ! Ascot has managed to be pretty quick during the Royal meeting even in crap summers .
Delegator is in a trick position in the probably needs a fashish surface to get home over a mile. But if it came up Good To Soft or softer he would surely struggle to get home over a mile particularly at a track like The Curragh.
Narcotic Nora
Apprentice
The racing post today reports that Evasive will not be supplemented for the race and instead goes straight to Royal Ascot.
Cashmans are offering odds of 5-2 Delegator, 4-1 Mastercraftsman and Arazan, 6-1 Intense Focus, 14-1 Recharge.
No mention of Soul City which I believe is being aimed at the race.
I suppose alot will depend on how much the ground dries out. It was heavy at the last meeting but presumably has dried out somewhat since then. Those closer to the track than me might know better.
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The going is good in Naas tonight and would imagine it wouldnt be that much different in Naas. We have had some lovely drying days of late but its to get pretty unsettled from this afternoon onwards.
I'd be keen on Mastercraftsman but wouldnt back him in the worry Rip Van Winkle could be re-routed.
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Sheikh
At the Start
No strong opinion yet but Recharge was eye catching at Leopardstown. Prendergasts don't tend to improve as much as the others though.
I don't think Rip is or should be on the radar for this. They should be looking to step him up in trip, although if they were going to try a mile again I suppose this would be the one.
I certainly wouldn't have thought that Rip would run in preference to Mastercraftsman.
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I agree it is far more likely the Rip will go for the Derby, but I think there is a chance that they will be so happy with the rest of their Derby team that they might divert him elsewhere and the Irish Guineas could be an option.
If he did go for the Irish Guineas I would certainly back him to confirm form with Mastercraftsman.
If he did go for the Irish Guineas I would certainly back him to confirm form with Mastercraftsman.