Ballydoyle’s potential superstar City Of Troy heads a field of 11 in Saturday’s Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket.
Unbeaten in three outings last season, he has sparked Triple Crown dreams once more for Aidan O’Brien and his Coolmore owners.
Having come so close with in 2012 with Camelot, who won the Guineas and the Derby before finishing a three-quarter-length second to Encke in the St Leger, winning all three Classics remains an itch O’Brien would love to scratch. No horse has won it since Nijinsky in 1970.
City Of Troy, by an American Triple Crown winner in Justify, looked imperious when winning the Dewhurst last season.
His main danger according to the bookmakers is the Richard Hannon-trained Rosallion, who was very impressive in claiming Group One glory in France last autumn. Hannon also runs the cosy Craven scorer Haatem.
Raiding the field
There are plenty of other unbeaten colts with untapped potential and perhaps at the top of the list is Karl Burke’s Night Raider who has had just two outings on the all-weather, winning by nine lengths on the first occasion and five lengths at the second time of asking.
His jockey Danny Tudhope said: “He obviously wasn’t up against much in either of his races but he couldn’t have been more impressive.
“His work at home has been absolutely outstanding, and he’s really maturing into himself. I sat on him on Tuesday morning for a little breeze, and he felt a million dollars.
“He had a gallop on grass for the first time at the Craven meeting and I thought he handled the track unbelievably well.
“You might say there’s a question mark over him getting the mile, but from the way he’s finished his races, I’d say he’ll stay no problem.”
Following in the footsteps
Charlie Appleby’s Notable Speech has followed a similar path to Night Raider with three wins at Kempton, while Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter is sure to be staying on stronger than most given the way he won the Royal Lodge at two.
Charlie Hills’ Iberian had Rosallion behind him when winning the Champagne Stakes and the Owen Burrows-trained Alyanaabi got closest to City Of Troy in the Dewhurst.
Kevin Ryan’s promising Inisherin, Ralph Beckett’s Task Force and Ed Walker’s Ten Bob Tony, the mount of Saffie Osborne, complete the list.
The only three not declared at the 48-hour stage were Diego Velazquez, Henry Longfellow and River Tiber, all trained by O’Brien.
Current Going: Good
1:10 pm William Hill British EBF Ellen Chaloner Stakes (Listed Race) 6f
1 (9) Funny Story 4 9 11 Whitsbury Manor Stud and Mrs M. E. Slade Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan
2 (3) Azure Angel 4 9 8 Opulence Thoroughbreds Roger Varian James Doyle
3 (5) Glorious Angel (IRE) 4 9 8 Nick Bradley Racing 23 Grant Tuer Clifford Lee
4 (8) Premiere Beauty 4 9 8 Mr Ron Watts Stuart Williams Oisin Murphy
5 (1) Silent Words 4 9 8 Clipper Kevin Ryan Daniel Tudhope
6 (4) Star Guest 4 9 8 Godolphin Charlie Appleby William Buick
7 (7) Unequal Love 4 9 8 Cheveley Park Stud William Haggas Tom Marquand
8 (2) Dorothy Lawrence 3 8 12 Clipper K. R. Burke Neil Callan
9 (6) Heritage House (IRE) ts 3 8 12 The Gredley Family James Fanshawe Callum Shepherd
1:45pm William Hill Extra Place Races Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 6f
1 (6) Noble Style 4 9 12 Godolphin Charlie Appleby William Buick
2 (2) Rohaan (IRE) 6 9 7 Mr Kieran McCabe & Mr Paul Byrne David Evans Neil Callan
3 (8) Rocket Rodney 4 9 6 Victorious Racing George Scott Callum Shepherd
4 (5) Apollo One 6 9 4 pcracing.co.uk P. Charalambous & J. Clutterbuck Richard Kingscote
5 (11) Chipstead p 6 9 3 Homecroft & Crampsie Roger Teal Tom Marquand
6 (1) Mums Tipple (IRE) 7 9 1 Marian Lyons & Patricia Zanelli Richard Hannon Ryan Moore
7 (7) Aberama Gold v 7 9 1 Mr Evan M. Sutherland David O'Meara Kieran Shoemark
8 (14) Rabaah (IRE) 4 9 0 Shadwell Estate Company Ltd Charles Hills Jim Crowley
9 (16) Wallop (IRE) 4 8 13 J. Sullivan, W. Salthouse Richard Hannon Rossa Ryan
10 (9) Summerghand (IRE) v 10 8 13 Mr Salem Rashid Bin Ghadayer David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope
11 (15) Desert Cop 4 8 12 Mr J. C. Smith Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy
12 (4) Aleezdancer (IRE) 5 8 11 Jack Berry and John Matthews Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves
13 (3) Sterling Knight p 5 8 8 Mr Paul Turner Ed Dunlop David Probert
14 (10) Tactical p 6 8 7 Mr N. O'Keeffe Julie Camacho David Egan
15 (12) Chairmanoftheboard (IRE) v 8 8 4 David Kilburn & Chris Wright Jack Channon Edward Greatrex
16 (13) Abate 8 8 3 Ruffles Racing Club Adrian Nicholls Mia Nicholls (5)
2:20pm William Hill Suffolk Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 1m 1f
1 (14) Killybegs Warrior (IRE) 4 9 12 Mr M. Doyle Charlie Johnston James Doyle
2 (9) Torito 4 9 11 Mr George Strawbridge John & Thady Gosden Kieran Shoemark
3 (2) Liberty Lane (IRE) 4 9 7 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum K. R. Burke Clifford Lee
4 (16) Bopedro (FR) v 8 9 6 Mr Georginio Rutter David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope
5 (15) Mr Professor (IRE) 5 9 5 Amo Racing Limited Dominic Ffrench Davis David Egan
6 (4) Hafeet Alain (IRE) 8 9 5 (4lb ex) Mr P. K. Siu Ed Walker Callum Hutchinson (3)
7 (13) Westerton (IRE) 4 9 4 Mr J. Law Alan King Rossa Ryan
8 (8) Lattam (IRE) 5 9 4 Mr N. O'Keeffe Julie Camacho Ryan Sexton
9 (7) Lion of War 4 9 1 David Howden, David Redvers & Partners Charlie Johnston Oisin Murphy
10 (11) King's Code v 4 8 13 Eric Griffiths & P D Evans David Evans Richard Kingscote
11 (12) Stay Well 6 8 12 Ben & Sir Martyn Arbib Hughie Morrison George Bass (3)
12 (1) Dutch Decoy 7 8 12 Owners Group 052 Charlie Johnston Joe Fanning
13 (3) Theoryofeverything 4 8 12 Gallop Racing David O'Meara William Buick
14 (5) Majestic (IRE) 6 8 11 Mr N. J. Hitchins Jack Channon David Probert
15 (10) McLean House (FR) 4 8 8 Mr Richard Wilmot-Smith Andrew Balding
16 (6) Mustazeed (IRE) 6 8 8 Newmarket Racing Club HQiii Harry Eustace Saffie Osborne
2:55pm William Hill Palace House Stakes (Group 3) 5f
1 (4) Equality h 6 9 9 Kennet Valley Syndicates II Charles Hills Saffie Osborne
2 (7) Kerdos (IRE) 4 9 9 John Connolly & A D Spence Clive Cox Rossa Ryan
3 (6) Mitbaahy (IRE) 5 9 9 Mrs Fitri Hay Charles Hills Jamie Spencer
4 (3) Significantly p 6 9 9 Mr N. O'Keeffe Julie Camacho Ryan Sexton
5 (5) Tees Spirit 6 9 9 Ingleby Bloodstock Ltd & The Ivy League Adrian Nicholls Mia Nicholls
6 (8) Twilight Calls 6 9 9 Cheveley Park Stud Henry Candy Ryan Moore
7 (2) Vadream p 6 9 6 Mr D. R. J. King Charlie Fellowes Kieran Shoemark
8 (9) Seven Questions (IRE) p 3 9 0 Victorious Racing & Fawzi Nass George Scott Callum Shepherd
9 (1) Beautiful Diamond 3 8 11 Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum K. R. Burke Clifford Lee
3:35pm QIPCO 2000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) 1m
1 (8) Alyanaabi (IRE) 3 9 2 Shadwell Estate Company Ltd Owen Burrows Jim Crowley
2 (2) City of Troy (USA) 3 9 2 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O'Brien Ireland Ryan Moore
3 (3) Ghostwriter (IRE) 3 9 2 Mr J. C. Smith Clive Cox Richard Kingscote
4 (5) Haatem (IRE) 3 9 2 Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah Richard Hannon James Doyle
5 (11) Iberian (IRE) 3 9 2 Teme Valley & Ballylinch Stud Charles Hills Tom Marquand
6 (7) Inisherin 3 9 2 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves
7 (1) Night Raider (IRE) 3 9 2 Clipper K. R. Burke Daniel Tudhope
8 (6) Notable Speech 3 9 2 Godolphin Charlie Appleby William Buick
9 (4) Rosallion (IRE) 3 9 2 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Richard Hannon Sean Levey
10 (9) Task Force 3 9 2 Juddmonte Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan
11 (10) Ten Bob Tony (IRE) 3 9 2 TBT Racing Limited Ed Walker Saffie Osborne
4:10pm William Hill Epic Boost Handicap 1m 4f
1 (9) Relentless Voyager 4 9 12 Relentless Dreamers Racing & Partner Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy
2 (7) Real Dream (IRE) ts 5 9 10 Mr Saeed Suhail Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore
3 (1) Percy Shelley p 5 9 4 Akela Thoroughbreds Limited David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope
4 (6) Maxi King (IRE) 4 9 1 Amo Racing Limited Dominic Ffrench Davis David Egan
5 (2) Youthful King 5 9 1 Mr Richard L Page & Mr Luke Dace Luke Dace Aidan Keeley (3)
6 (3) To Catch A Thief p 4 9 0 Mr A. E. Oppenheimer William Haggas Tom Marquand
7 (5) Knightswood (IRE) 5 8 11 Brian Yeardley & Partner Charlie Johnston Joe Fanning
8 (4) Hope You Can Run (IRE) p 4 8 10 Kingsley Park 40 - Ready To Run Charlie Johnston Franny Norton
9 (8) Geremia (IRE) 6 8 6 Mr Scott Fyffe & Mr James Fyffe Iain Jardine Saffie Osborne
4:45pm William Hill Bet In-Running Handicap 6f
1 (9) James's Delight (IRE) 3 9 9 Paul & Clare Rooney Clive Cox Richard Kingscote
2 (5) Dapper Valley (IRE) 3 9 6 Thurloe Royal Marsden Cancer Charity II Richard Hannon Ryan Moore
3 (11) Shagraan (IRE) 3 9 6 J & A Young (Leicester) Ltd Michael Appleby Tom Marquand
4 (8) Moswaat 3 9 4 Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah Roger Varian James Doyle
5 (6) Two Tribes bl 3 9 2 Phil Cunningham Richard Spencer Oisin Murphy
6 (3) Eye of Dubai 3 8 11 We Do Racing & Whitsbury Manor Stud John & Sean Quinn William Buick
7 (2) We Never Stop (IRE) 3 8 11 Mr B. T. McDonald Kevin Ryan Shane Gray
8 (4) Completely Random 3 8 10 Paul Inglett and Beckhampton Harry Charlton Trevor Whelan
9 (7) South Shore 3 8 6 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum K. R. Burke David Egan
10 (10) Trefor (IRE) 3 8 6 Julie Martin & David R. Martin & Partner Charles Hills Saffie Osborne
11 (1) World of Darcy (IRE) p 3 8 3 Das Racing Limited John Ryan Sean Dylan Bowen (5)
5:15pm William Hill Keep Your Raceday Positive "Confined" Handicap 7f
1 (19) City House (IRE) ts 3 9 11 The Gredley Family James Fanshawe Callum Shepherd
2 (15) Christian David (IRE) 3 9 10 Sir David Seale Richard Hannon Ryan Moore
3 (14) Royal Zabeel (IRE) 3 9 9 Mr Jaber Abdullah Kevin Ryan Neil Callan
4 (13) Quatre Bras (IRE) 3 9 8 Mr P. W. Harris Jane Chapple-Hyam David Egan
5 (5) Key To Cotai (IRE) 3 9 8 Julia Scott & Fred Ma Ed Walker Tom Marquand
6 (7) Betties Bay 3 9 7 Clear Racing Georgina Nicholls Joshua Bryan
7 (10) Purefoy 3 9 6 The Yippees & Partner Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy
8 (16) Pitney (IRE) 3 9 5 The Gene Genies Hugo Palmer James Doyle
9 (2) Love Billy Boy (IRE) 3 9 5 Roldvale Ltd, C. Bloor, W. Salthouse Richard Hannon Sean Levey
10 (8) Run Boy Run 3 9 4 Phil Cunningham Richard Spencer Kieran Shoemark
11 (4) Rockstar Icon (IRE) 3 9 4 Coral Racing Club Paul & Oliver Cole David Probert
12 (17) Pressure's On (FR) 3 9 4 The Coleuses Partnership Ed Dunlop Rossa Ryan
13 (3) Jungle Mac (IRE) 3 9 3 Opulence Thoroughbreds Jack Channon Charles Bishop
14 (6) Kodiac Thriller (IRE) 3 9 3 Rocket Roy Partnership Charles Hills William Buick
15 (1) Pedro Valentino (IRE) 3 8 13 Oak Lodge Racing Clive Cox Richard Kingscote
16 (18) Harry Did 3 8 13 Park Lodge Stables Ltd Harry Eustace Pierre-Louis Jamin
17 (9) Indivar (IRE) 3 8 12 Exors of the Late Mr F. Gillespie David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope
18 (20) Sugarloaf Lenny (IRE) 3 8 6 Caught Short Partnership William Knight Saffie Osborne
19 (12) Romanee h 3 8 4 Mr Smith Bernal, Mr Verrier, Mr Lewis John Ryan Sean Dylan Bowen (5)
20 (11) Mister Mojito (IRE) 3 8 3 GOLD SYNDICATE T. J. Kent Tyler Heard (3)
5:50pm Hkjc World Pool Handicap 1m
1 (3) Farasi Lane (IRE) 6 9 13 Mr Adam Spratt & Partner Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole Kieran Shoemark
2 (14) Pjanoo p 4 9 11 Phil Cunningham Richard Spencer Tom Marquand
3 (2) Chuzzlewit bl 4 9 10 Mr J C G Chua and Partner Kevin Ryan Shane Gray
4 (13) Darkness (FR) v 6 9 10 Akela Thoroughbreds Limited David O'Meara Sean Levey
5 (17) Rowayeh (IRE) h 4 9 10 Shadwell Estate Company Ltd Owen Burrows Jim Crowley
6 (9) Arthur's Realm (IRE) p 6 9 9 Mr Paul Turner Ed Dunlop Rossa Ryan
7 (11) Crack Shot (IRE) 4 9 9 Mrs Fitri Hay Ed Walker Jamie Spencer
8 (15) Legend of Leros (IRE) ts 4 9 8 Mr Paul Hunt Marco Botti Neil Callan
9 (6) Bystander (IRE) 4 9 8 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum K. R. Burke Clifford Lee
10 (1) Aalto (FR) 4 9 8 Bell, Lyons & James Ian Williams Richard Kingscote
11 (16) Sudden Ambush ts 4 9 7 Mr Salem Rashid Bin Ghadayer Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy
12 (7) Larado (FR) v 6 9 3 Mrs Elisabeth Cash Michael Appleby Alistair Rawlinson
13 (12) Carolus Magnus (IRE) ts 6 9 2 R J TurtonRacing Michael & David Easterby Billy Garritty
14 (8) Bodorgan (IRE) 4 9 2 Julie Martin & David R. Martin & Partner Charles Hills William Buick
15 (10) Epsom Faithfull p 7 9 1 Epsom Racegoers No.2 Pat Phelan Paddy Bradley
16 (5) Zozimus (IRE) v 6 9 0 The Horse Watchers 3 David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope
17 (4) Speriamo bl 4 8 12 ExorsOfS.Agodino,C.M.Budgett,P.J.McBride Philip McBride Saffie Osborne