ONE of the more memorable moments on the field of play in the 2020 flat season – one of the most memorable seasons of modern times for all the reasons – happened in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh in September, as the field raced past the furlong marker and Declan McDonogh asked Thunder Moon to pick up.

The turn of foot that he showed.

The Zoffany colt went from travelling well with two furlongs to go, a wall of horses in front of him, to looking for a gap and moving to his left, to in the clear but still two lengths down, to whoosh.

He went from two lengths down to one length up in the 150 yards of turf that ran from the yellow 200-yard marker to the yellow 50-yard marker. It was the turn of foot of a high-class colt.

Joseph O’Brien’s horse had Wembley and St Mark’s Basilica a length and a half behind him at the winning line that day, and he had Master Of The Seas two lengths behind him, and he had Lucky Vega two and a half lengths behind him, so it was not surprising that he was sent off as favourite for the Dewhurst four weeks later.

He was beaten in the Dewhurst, but he didn’t run badly under conditions that wouldn’t have suited him.

Soft ground

Wide on the track on the soft ground, he couldn’t get past St Mark’s Basilica, and he was caught for the runner-up spot by Wembley, but it was still a fine run by him on ground that was softer than ideal.

He has one and three quarter lengths to make up on Wembley on their Dewhurst running in today’s 2000 Guineas, and the soft ground wouldn’t have been ideal for Aidan O’Brien’s colt in the Dewhurst either, but you just feel that the ground would have sucked the life out of Thunder Moon’s turn of foot.

He handled Newmarket that day, he went in and out of the Dip well and, out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and a half-brother to Table Rock, who won a listed race over a mile and a maiden over 10 furlongs, he should have no difficulty with the step up to a mile.

His draw in stall 10 is probably a positive too. Middle to near side should be ideal with the stalls in the centre.

Moore’s choice

It is a fascinating Guineas. Wembley has been favourite since declarations were made on Thursday and Ryan Moore was declared on him. The Galileo colt has won just once, but he ran big races to finish second in both the National Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes, and he didn’t have an ideal run through either race.

Battleground, Found’s first foal, won the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot last year and followed up by winning the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, before going to America an finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

And Frankie Dettori, who rode St Mark’s Basilica to win the Dewhurst for Aidan O’Brien last October, takes the ride.

Autumn Stakes winner One Ruler was an ante-post mover. That move has since lost momentum, but the Godolphin colt is still a player, even if William Buick does prefer the game Craven winner Master Of The Seas.

Chindit was similarly game in winning the Greenham, and Mutasaabeq was so impressive in winning a conditions stakes two and a half weeks ago over seven furlongs of the Rowley Mile, that connections decided to pay the supplementary fee to put him into the race.

Poetic Flare is interesting. He was well-beaten in the Dewhurst but, winner of his maiden on soft ground at Naas before lockdown last March, Jim Bolger’s colt was impressive in winning the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown on his final run last season, and he kept on well to win the Guineas Trial at Leopardstown three weeks ago.

Van Gogh may step up in trip in time, and Lucky Vega may step back in trip, but both are well worth their respective places in what is a fascinating Guineas. The Guineas usually is.

Godolphin favourite

Lazuli heads the market for the Betfair Palace House Stakes earlier on the day. The Godolphin horse was impressive in winning a Group 3 race over five furlongs at Newbury last September on his final run of the season in Britain, and this five-furlong trip is his trip, more than six.

He sets a fair standard, he is the highest rated horse in the race, but he has to concede 3lb to Garrus, who is only rated 1lb inferior.

Garrus was a talented sprinter for Jeremy Noseda as a two-year-old and a three-year-old and, now with Charlie Hills, he proved that he retained his ability when he won a five-furlong conditions stakes at Wolverhampton in March.

That was his first run back after a break of over a year and a half, and his first run after a gelding and a wind operation, and he stepped forward from it last time when he finished second to Came From The Dark in a five-furlong handicap at Newbury.

Came From The Dark was impressive in coming from the rear that day and getting up to beat Garrus by a cosy neck, but Newmarket is not a track at which you want to be coming from too far back. Ed Walker’s horse will be of interest if and when he goes back to Newbury, or to Ascot, or to Haydock, where he has won three times, but at Newmarket today, and on 4lb better terms, Garrus may exact his revenge.

Recommended

Garrus, 1pt win, 2.25 Newmarket, 11/2 (generally)

Thunder Moon, 1pt win, 11/2

(generally)

Winner

Donn’s run of winning Saturdays continued last week when Greaneteen (advised at 8/1) won the Celebration Chase at Sandown.