2000 Guineas
The 2000 Guineas Stakes is one of the premiere Group 1 flat races in the UK. It runs three-year-old thoroughbreds of both genders. It is a short, furious run over a straight single mile of track. The 2000 Guineas Stakes is one of the “Classic” races run each year in England and has the distinction of being the oldest. As the first of three races exclusively for three-year-olds, the Triple Crowne continues with the Derby and the St. Leger Stakes. Over the course of two centuries, fifteen separate horses have achieved the Triple Crowne from all three races.
The 2000 Guineas Stake will be the highlighting event of the Stan James Guineas Festival held on May the 1st and 2nd at Newmarket Racecourse. While fillies are eligible to run, there have been none entered in the 2000 Guineas for many years. With a top prize of 375 thousand pounds, it is a sure bet that the race will be drawing he very best new racing talent. St Nicholas Abbey is this year’s early favorite to win. Comparable to last year’s winner, Sea The Stars, St. Nicholas Abbey has already scored in the Group 1 races as a two year old. This is a feat Sea The Stars did not even manage.
Placing the right bets for success can be difficult for this first Classic race of the season. Some of the horses have not taken the track since last autumn. A careful study of bloodlines, trainers, and past racing records are the most trustworthy indicators of just who may take the day and the 2000 Guineas prize money. She is currently at 3/1 odds with the next best-favored horses, Canford Cliffs and Steinbeck, matching up at 10/1 odds. The ultimate long shot is the hopeful Big Audio whose odds are running at around 66/1 for a win.