Air Force Blue Heads Guineas Entries

Emotionless | Racing Post

European 2-year-old champion Air Force Blue (War Front) is among the 65 initial entries received for the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas, which is set for Apr. 30 at Newmarket's Rowley Mile. Air Force Blue, the winner of last year's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S., G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and G1 Dubai Dewhurst S., is one of nine entries for trainer Aidan O'Brien. O'Brien's entries also include last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Hit It A Bomb (War Front) and G1 Criterium International scorer Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Also nominated from Ireland is Michael O'Callaghan's G3 Killavullan S. winner Blue De Vega (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), and French trainer Andre Fabre could be represented by Godolphin's G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}).

Also engaged is Godolphin's Emotionless (Ire) (Shamardal), the winner of last year's G2 Champagne S. for trainer Charlie Appleby. Emotionless trailed in last of seven behind Air Force Blue in the Dewhurst and was later found to have suffered an injury, but Appleby reported the colt to be on track for the Guineas.

“Emotionless is in full work and is progressing weekly. He is coming on at such a pace that we could tip-toe him towards a Guineas trial but it wouldn't worry me if he goes straight for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, as he is the type of horse that I know I can get fit at home,” Appleby said. “He had a knee chip in his top knee joint removed cleanly and successfully and has been in work since just before the New Year. He's a big individual who had plenty of scope to fill out and that's exactly what he's done–he's wintered very well. I always said that anything he achieved as a 2-year-old would be a bonus.”

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