Sprinting Campaign For 'Garfield'

While plenty of equine reputations tend to get bruised in a Guineas, for some the race is often the catalyst for a drop in trip in the future and that is the route that connections of James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) will take after the colt finished a respectable seventh in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday. The Gredley family's 3-year-old was a first Classic runner for trainer George Scott who is also Bill Gredley's son-in-law.

Reflecting on the colt's effort, Scott said, “We were very pleased with his run and I think it will turn out to be a strong Guineas. I think all the right horses came to the fore and, in time, I think it will turn out to be a cracking race. The mile possibly just stretched him so we will probably come back to six furlongs and go for the [G1] Commonwealth Cup.”

James Garfield showed high-class form over six furlongs as a juvenile when winning the G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. at Newbury last year and began his season in style when getting seven furlongs well to win the G3 Greenham S. at Newbury but as a son of the international speed influence Exceed And Excel (Aus) there is every reason to believe he can develop into a top notch sprinter.

“He is a Group 2 winner and he has had two hard races, so we will take it as they come,” he said. “My gut reaction is we will freshen him up for the Commonwealth Cup and the programme really picks up for the sprinters afterwards.”