tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd and ridden straight, weakened 2f out
tracked leader, closed on inside rail to lead 2f out, soon in command, ran on strongly
rushed up to lead and set good pace, came off inside rail straight, headed over 2f out, soon eased when no chance
dwelt, soon in touch, 5th and ridden straight, weakened inside final 2f
held up in touch, 6th and pushed along straight, headway over 1f out, stayed on once pace to take 3rd just inside final furlong
took keen hold, held up in 7th, 9th straight, headway on wide outside inside final 2f, disputing 2nd place approaching final furlong, no extra inside final furlong
held up in last pair, 10th and ridden straight, plugged on final furlong
tracked leaders, 4th straight, chased winner 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up in rear, last and ridden straight, switched left 2f out, headway under pressure on inside over 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong but no chance with winner
tracked leaders in 4th, 7th and weakening straight, soon well behind
held up, 8th and ridden straight, driven on outside over 2f out, plugged on final furlong
Araafa can land the feature race on day one of Royal Ascot, with Decado, Stormy River and Marcus Andronicus all respected. Year in, year out, it pays to closely inspect runners that have contested either the English, Irish or French 2,000 Guineas, as nine of the last 10 winners of today's contest have emerged from that trio of Classics. With that in mind it is no surprise that Araafa, Stormy River and Marcus Andronicus are well to the fore in the betting. Araafa was not knocked about when beaten in the Stan James 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and made no mistake next time in the Irish version, turning the tables on George Washington in the process. That was in very testing going, but Jeremy Noseda is adamant that his colt is still very much on the upgrade, and that he will be just as lethal under these much faster conditions. In addition, he bids to become the fourth Irish 2,000 Guineas winner to double up in the last six runnings of this Group 1 contest. Marcus Andronicus only got going late on behind stablemate Aussie Rules in the French version at Longchamp, and as Aidan O'Brien has collected here three times in the past six years, with Giant's Causeway, Black Minnaloushe and Rock Of Gibraltar, the chance of Marcus Andronicus has to be hugely respected. He makes much more appeal than stablemate Ivan Denisovitch, but the suspicion is that the ground will be just too fast for him today. Stormy River was sent off as odds-on favourite in the French 2000 Guineas, but finished a head behind Aidan O'Brien's colt, and we intend to take him on again, while of the rest, Decado has it to do with Araafa on the Curragh form, but did post a good time on better ground in the Tetrarch Stakes earlier, so cannot be ruled out. No winner has started at odds bigger than 9-1 in the last decade, and so the rest, including the well touted Aeroplane, would appear to be up against it on the stats, with Araafa boasting the best credentials of all.
Aeroplane 7-2 (8-12) Held up, chased leaders over 2f out, unable to quicken final furlong, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Jeremy (8-12) at Newmarket 7f 3yo lst stk (1) sft in May.
Araafa (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, close 4th after halfway, led under 3f out, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Curragh 1m 3yo Grp 1 (1) hvy in May beating George Washington (9-0) by 2l, 11 ran.
Arabian Prince (USA) 66-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, weakened from 2f out, tailed off, last of 11, 43l behind Araafa (9-0) at Curragh 1m 3yo Grp 1 (1) hvy in May.
Decado (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Always prominent, 2nd and ridden over 2f out, 3rd and no impression when slightly hampered inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Araafa (9-0) at Curragh 1m 3yo Grp 1 (1) hvy in May.
Ivan Denisovich (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, 10th straight, some late progress, never a factor, 7th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Aussie Rules (9-2) at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 (1) gs in May.
Marcus Andronicus (USA) 14-1 (9-2) Prominent, every chance 2f out, ran on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Aussie Rules (9-2) at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 (1) gs in May.
Metropolitan Man 7-2fav (8-12) Held up, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 7, 2l behind After You (8-7) at Newmarket 1m 3yo stk (4) sft in May.
Royal Power (IRE) (9-2) Tracked leaders, led 2f out, ran on well, won at Cologne 1m Grp 2 (1) sft in May beating Aspectus (9-2) by a nk, 10 ran.
Stormy River (FR) 4-6fav (9-2) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, headed 100yds out, lost 2nd last strides, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Aussie Rules (9-2) at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 (1) gs in May.
Yarqus (9-2) Front rank when impeded over 1f out, soon beaten, 6th of 14, 11l behind Gentlewave (9-2) at Rome 1m 4f Italian Derby (1) gd in May.
Yasoodd 25-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, progress over 2f out, 5th when not clear run under 1f out, kept on, 4th of 11, 4l behind Araafa (9-0) at Curragh 1m 3yo Grp 1 (1) hvy in May.
