By Sean Cronin
THE SHAPING OF AN ICON?
Heavy is the head that wears the crown and come Saturday, Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will face the age-old test of the champion juvenile returning to extend his influence in the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. If successful, Churchill will become only the fifth juvenile champion to win this Classic in the last 20 years, proof that it is no gimme for the previous season's leader. The likes of Celtic Swing (GB), Alhaarth (Ire), Xaar (GB), St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) and Air Force Blue were all rated higher in the international classifications, but were unable to clinch this prize. His immortal human namesake once proclaimed that “history will be kind to me for I intend to write it” and that reflects Aidan O'Brien's training career thus far as the leader of his era continues to turn the implausible into the everyday. On the back of a peak season that witnessed a previously unimaginable one-two-three in the Arc, the man at the helm of the supreme outfit in Co. Tipperary unleashes Churchill at the meeting that traditionally acts as the end of the beginning as his stable changes gear.
Despite more-than-satisfactory performances in winning the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh and this track's G1 Dewhurst S. on his record, it is probable that he will have to raise that standard against a trio of unbeaten colts on the upgrade, but there was always a sense that his juvenile form was merely the tip of an iceberg. O'Brien is never demonstrative in pre-race comment, preferring to let his horses do the talking, as was the case with his predecessor at Ballydoyle. In his simple statement to the Telegraph there is, however, a subtle confidence that Churchill is primed to the minute. “I've been very happy with him over the winter and we think he is well ready to start,” he told the daily. “Everything has gone well. He was a very mature 2-year-old, big and strong with plenty of scope. He travels very smoothly through his races and has a lot of pace.”
With just 10 runners engaged, the draw was unlikely to be a factor this year and it will only be apparent how the race will pan out when it is underway on a track that is prone to splits. Even the G3 Craven S. 16 days ago, with just seven runners, resulted in two groups with the one towards the far side seemingly at a disadvantage throughout and that may influence tactics here. Churchill, a relative of the jet-propelled Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}), lacks for nothing in the speed department and it may be that stablemate Lancaster Bomber (War Front) will not be required to set a demanding pace despite leading when second in the Dewhurst. A closer when runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and when fourth in the G2 UAE Derby at Meydan on Mar. 25, he is drawn next to the favourite in four, with the third Ballydoyle representative Spirit of Valor (War Front), who was eighth in the UAE Derby, in eight.
One who could have been helped by a kinder post position is Godolphin's free-running Dream Castle (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is drawn 10 of 10 fitted with a first-time hood. Saeed bin Suroor was keen to try the Guineas despite the homebred appearing to fade late on in the seven-furlong G3 Greenham S. at Newbury a fortnight ago, but he will need to gain cover from the outset to avoid another burn-out. He has Top Score (GB) (Hard Spun) alongside in nine and despite that stablemate possessing ability, as he showed when winning the Feb. 23 Listed Meydan Classic, he will need to break better than he has of late if his duty is to guide Dream Castle through the early stages. Only introduced on Apr. 2 in a Doncaster maiden also over seven, Dream Castle would be bucking a major trend if prevailing with no juvenile form.
The most notable withdrawal on Thursday, as expected, was last year's G1 Racing Post Trophy hero Rivet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who was runner-up to Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Craven. “I thought the winner was impressive, so I can't see the point of taking Churchill and others on at a track like Newmarket,” trainer William Haggas said. “I'm not saying [the track] doesn't suit, but I think Deauville will suit him better [for the May 14 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains].”
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain, post time: 3:35 p.m.
QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS S.-G1, £500,000, 3yo, c/f, 8fT
SC PP HORSE SIRE
1 7 Al Wukair (Ire) Dream Ahead
(200,000gns Ylg '15 TAOCT)
O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Gregory Benoist. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, £68,012.
Last Start: WON Apr. 10 G3 Prix Djebel
2 5 Barney Roy (GB) Excelebration (Ire)
(30,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA; £70,000 Ylg '15 DNPRM)
O-Godolphin; B-Eliza Park International Pty Ltd (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-James Doyle. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, £38,296.
Last Start: WON Apr. 22 G3 Greenham S.
3 3 Churchill (Ire) Galileo (Ire)
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Liberty Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-1, £559,194.
Last Start: WON Oct. 8 G1 Dewhurst S.
4 10 Dream Castle (GB) Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Silvestre de Sousa. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, £16,135.
Last Start: 2nd Apr. 22 G3 Greenham S.
5 2 Eminent (Ire) Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)
(150,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT)
O-Sir Peter Vela; B-Premier Bloodstock (IRE); T-Martyn Meade; J-Jim Crowley. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, £39,201.
Last Start: WON Apr. 20 G3 Craven S.
6 4 Lancaster Bomber War Front">War Front
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Sun Shower Syndicate (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Donnacha O'Brien. Lifetime Record: 7-1-2-0, £320,879.
Last Start: 4th Mar. 25 G2 UAE Derby
7 6 Larchmont Lad (Ire) Footstepsinthesand (GB)">Footstepsinthesand (GB)
(€110,000 Ylg '15 TISEP)
O-Michael Geoghegan; B-Domenico Fonzo (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-William Buick. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, £37,078.
Last Start: 5th Apr. 20 G3 Craven S.
8 1 Law and Order (Ire) Lawman (Fr)
(40,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT)
O-Saeed Manana; B-Mr & Mrs Clive Martin (IRE); T-James Tate; J-Martin Harley. Lifetime Record: 7-2-0-3, £37,535.
Last Start: 3rd Apr. 18 Listed Feilden S.
9 8 Spirit of Valor War Front">War Front
($850,000 Wlg '14 KEENOV)
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Stonestreet Stables; B-Nursery Place (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Seamus Heffernan. Lifetime Record: 4-1-1-1, £16,483.
Last Start: 8th Mar. 25 G2 UAE Derby
10 9 Top Score Hard Spun">Hard Spun
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Joe Fanning. Lifetime Record: 11-3-2-4, £173,839.
Last Start: 11th Mar. 25 G2 UAE Derby
All carry 126 pounds.
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