Gstaad has been re‑added to the Betfred 2000 Guineas field at Newmarket after a supplementary payment of £30,000 was made to secure his participation. The decision comes after an administrative mistake saw the Aidan O'Brien‑trained colt, who captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, mistakenly removed from the Classic entry list along with fellow Ballydoyle runner Albert Einstein. While Albert Einstein remains a non‑starter, Gstaad now joins three other Ballydoyle hopefuls that have survived to the confirmation stage on Monday. Those include the dual Group One champion Puerto Rico, the proven performer Causeway and the promising Flushing Meadows, all of which are among the twenty colts still under consideration for the race.
In addition to the Irish contingent, there are several British‑trained horses that could make the crossing of the Irish Sea. Fozzy Stack’s lightly‑raced prospect Thesecretadversary and Robson De Aguiar’s Power Blue are both being floated as possible entries, while the home‑trained Bow Echo will look to extend his unbeaten record over the Rowley Mile. George Boughey’s son of Night Of Thunder, who won each of his three starts last season—including a decisive victory in the Royal Lodge Stakes on the Guineas course and over the same distance—has also been confirmed.
A second supplementary entry comes from Charlie Pike, whose Padraig Dawn finished a close second in the Burradon Stakes at Newcastle in only his second career start. Charlie Appleby could field two runners: the Dewhurst‑placed Distant Storm and the unbeaten King’s Trail, while Roger Varian’s Avicenna remains a potential Godolphin representative.
John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon, who beat Avicenna into second place in the Craven Stakes, also stays in the mix, as does Karl Burke, who may run a three‑horse string comprising Greenham winner Alparslan, Billecart and Hankelow. France’s sole challenger is Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Samangan.
Jim Boyle’s Into The Sky, a length second in the Mill Reef at the end of last season, will represent the Needle Match operation, while William Haggas will try to reverse the form with his Greenham‑placed Alparslan. The field is rounded out by Andrew Balding’s Venetian Prince and Ismail Mohammed’s Lord Britain. Turning to the Betfred 1000 Guineas, the ante‑post favourite is Precise, one of twenty‑two fillies still standing for the Newmarket Classic on Sunday. The daughter of Starspangledbanner has won four of her five starts as a juvenile, including Group One victories in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and the Fillies’ Mile on the Rowley Mile.
A spring setback threatened to derail her campaign, but trainer Aidan O’Brien remained optimistic after a press conference last week and confirmed she will contest the first fillies’ Classic of the year at the Monday confirmation stage. O’Brien has also left the unbeaten Diamond Necklace in his stable, hinting that the colt could be aimed at the French Guineas provided Precise wins her race and remains fit for Newmarket. Other Ballydoyle entries include True Love and Venosa.
On the home side, Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun, who was dominant in her first four starts at two before finishing a respectable third behind Precise in her last Irish outing, will lead the British contingent. Burke’s second string features Prix de la Grotte winner Evolutionist.
Charlie Appleby’s sole hope of repeating a back‑to‑back 1000 Guineas triumph—following Desert Flower’s success a year earlier—is Kempton winner Abashiri. The Godolphin silks may also be represented by Andre Fabre’s potential French challenger My Highness. Additional fillies in the race include Owen Burrows‑trained Fred Darling runner‑up Touleen, Ed Walker’s lightly‑raced The Prettiest Star, Stuart Williams’ surprise Mill Reef winner Azleet, and the unbeaten Darn Hot Gallop from James Tate’s yard.
Overall, the 2000 Guineas field now features a blend of proven Group‑level performers, promising juveniles stepping up in distance, and a handful of supplementary entries that have paid significant fees to secure a spot. Gstaad’s reinstatement adds another high‑class Irish contender to a race that already boasts multiple Ballydoyle horses, while the 1000 Guineas sees Precise firmly established as the market favourite amid a strong international lineup.
The upcoming confirmation stage on Monday will finalize the entries, setting the stage for what promises to be a highly competitive spring meeting at Newmarket.