Countdown to the classics

[bowles10]

This is the time of year when you start putting together your knowledge for the first few classics of the season, 1000 Guineas & 2000 Guineas are in early May quickly followed 4 weeks later by the Derby & the Oaks. In here i intend to gather as much info from the trial races as possible in order to provide our members with as much information as possible. Join in if you have any detail to add.

[bowles10]

Re: Countdown to the classics James Fanshawe was out on the Newmarket gallops on Monday with 1000 Guineas favourite Spacious working under Jamie Spencer, with the trainer reporting: "Spacious, ridden by Jamie Spencer, worked with Cesare (Mark Denaro) and both of them worked nicely. Jamie felt Spacious had come on since he last rode her." Sir Gerry also pleased connections. Fanshawe said: "Sir Gerry was ridden by Oscar Urbina and worked over a mile with a lead horse. Oscar was very happy with the way he relaxed in his work and he picked up nicely." Dermot Weld has got his season off to a flying start and saddled a 118-1 treble at Leopardstown on Sunday that included wins in both the Group Three Guineas Trials. Carribean Sunset landed the 1000 Guineas Trial over seven furlongs, fighting out the finish with Halfway To Heaven to get up by a head. Weld said of the Danehill Dancer filly: "Her run at Cork last time was in very deep ground and that's obviously brought her on. We'll now be looking at the Irish 1,000 Guineas for her next run." She has been cut to 25-1 for the Classic Dual Group One winner Saoirse Abu was third, with Kevin Manning noting: "She was very fresh and got very buzzy down at the start. I'll be surprised if you don't see a very different filly when she runs next." Aidan O'Brien's Psalm had her saddle slip soon after the start and she could finish only seventh. Juddmonte homebred Famous Name was rather more impressive in the 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes over a mile and he can improve further. Weld said of the Dansili colt: "He has developed into a bull of a colt and he is very smart. He was about 15kg over his optimum racing weight today, so he should come on well for the run. He could go for the Irish 2000 Guineas or the French Guineas depending on what his owner wants to do and I could see him staying a mile and a quarter, and possibly further." The form compliments Ballydoyle's Jupiter Pluvius, who was firmly in control when beating Famous Name in the Group Three Killavullan Stakes last term. Weld also struck with Unwritten Rule, who beat O'Brien's well=touted Derby hope Washington Irving. The pair are likely to meet again in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial. Sheikh Mohammed's homebred three-year-old filly Antiquities (Kaldounevees - Historian, by Pennekamp) made her debut in the 16 runner maiden over 10f at Longchamp on Sunday and put in a stunning winning performance, surging clear from second place in the straight to beat Moonlight Danceuse by six lengths. Antiquities is out of the Listed winner Historian, a half sister to Street Cry and and to Helsinki, Shamardal's dam. Horses listed above/target race/current odds Spacious - 1000 Guineas - 8/1 Corals Sir Gerry - 2000 Guineas - 50/1 Tote Caribbean Sunset - irish 1000 Guineas - ?? Saorise Abu - 1000 Guineas - 33/1 Bluesq Psalm - 1000 Guineas - 20/1 Tote Famous Name - 2000 Guineas - 25/1 Tote Jupiter Pluvius - 2000 Guineas - 12/1 Ladbrokes Unwritten Rule - ?? Washington Irving - Derby - 16/1 Ladbrokes Antiquities - ??