Irish trainer Jim Bolger is no stranger to success in the British Classics, so his victory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket with Poetic Flare was not a surprise to many people, despite the colt prevailing at odds of 16/1.
The son of the impressive 2013 2000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach got the better of Master Of The Seas by just a short head to score for the fourth time in his career. It is unlikely that the horse will be supplemented for the Derby, as his breeding suggests 1m may be his optimum distance.
Poetic Flare has an entry in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh, while at Royal Ascot we could see him in the St James’s Palace Stakes over 1m or the Commonwealth Cup which is a sprint for three-year-olds.
Van Gogh
Van Gogh and Wembley, two of Aidan O’Brien’s runners, were both disappointing at Newmarket. They finished eighth and 11th respectively. They may improve for a step up in distance, particularly the latter who is a son of Galileo.
Wembley is now 14/1 in the horse racing betting for the race at Epsom next month, while Wembley is 20/1. The Ballydoyle trainer is likely to have much better chances with High Definition and Bolshoi Ballet who are the top two in the ante-post market.
Lucky Vega was less than a length behind Poetic Flare and Master of The Seas in third place at Newmarket. Jessica Harrington’s runner is a 16/1 shot for the Derby. He kept on well in the closing stages of the British Classic to suggest he could improve for a step up in distance.
The Irish horse does hold an entry into the prestigious contest over 1m4f. His trainer has won some of the biggest races at the Cheltenham Festival and on the National Hunt calendar but a win in the Derby would be by far her best success on the Flat.
Mohaafeth Shone Later On The Card
Arguably the biggest clue from 2000 Guineas day at Newmarket came later in the afternoon when Mohaafeth breezed to victory in a Listed contest over 1m2f. William Haggas’ colt looked very strong in the final couple of furlongs of that race.
The son of Frankel failed to get off the mark last year in two appearances on the track. He has been much better in 2021 though. He made his seasonal reappearance on the all-weather at Lingfield, getting up late on in that 1m affair to score by a narrow margin.
The Shadwell-owned horse was back on the turf at Newmarket during the Craven Meeting. That was his best performance up to that point, as he appeared much stronger and more comfortable over the longer distance of 1m2f.
This latest win on 2000 Guineas day firmly puts the three-year-old in the Derby picture. He can be backed at 10/1 following his crushing success. Haggas last won the Derby with Shaamit in 1996. 25 years on from that victory, he is likely to be back at Epsom with a strong contender.
This year’s Derby is scheduled to take place on the 5th of June and it will be the 242nd running of the Flat race.
