Gstaad has been reinstated into the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket after a supplementary payment of £30,000 was made to secure his place. The colt, a Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner trained by Aidan O'Brien, was originally removed from the Classic field because of an administrative oversight, a mistake that also affected Albert Einstein. While Albert Einstein will continue to miss the race, Gstaad now joins three other Ballydoyle hopefuls who have survived the Monday confirmation deadline. The other three Ballydoyle entries are the dual Group One victor Puerto Rico, the accomplished Group performer Causeway, and the promising Flushing Meadows.
All four are among the twenty colts still being considered for the race. In addition, two horses from the Fozzy Stack stable – Thesecretadversary – and from the Robson De Aguiar yard – Power Blue – may also make the journey across the Irish Sea to contest the Classic.
The British contingent is led by Bow Echo, who will test his unbeaten record over the Rowley Mile. George Boughey’s son of Night Of Thunder proved his quality last season, winning each of his three starts, including a decisive victory in the Royal Lodge Stakes over the same course and distance that will be used for the Guineas. Charlie Pike’s Padraig Dawn provides a second supplementary entry; the colt finished a close second in the Burradon Stakes at Newcastle on only his second start, showing enough promise to merit a shot at the Classic. Charlie Appleby could field two runners: Distant Storm, who finished third in the Dewhurst, and the unbeaten King’s Trail.
Godolphin may also be represented by Roger Varian’s Avicenna, another strong contender. John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon, who beat Avicenna into second place in the Craven Stakes, remains in the mix as well. Karl Burke might turn out three horses – Alparslan, the Greenham winner; Billecart; and Hankelow – while Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Samangan stands alone as the sole international challenger on his card. Jim Boyle’s Into The Sky, who was a length runner‑up in the Mill Reef Stakes toward the end of last season, will line up for William Haggas, hoping to reverse his recent form.
The field is rounded out by Andrew Balding’s Venetian Prince and Ismail Mohammed’s Lord Britain, both of whom have shown sufficient ability to merit a place on the day. Turning to the Betfred 1000 Guineas, the ante‑post favourite is Precise, one of twenty‑two fillies still in contention for the Sunday race at Newmarket. Precise is a daughter of Starspangledbanner and boasts an impressive juvenile record: four wins from five starts, including Group One triumphs 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 Aidan O'Brien remained optimistic after a recent press conference, confirming that she will contest the first fillies' Classic of the year at Monday's confirmation stage.
O'Brien has also kept the unbeaten Diamond Necklace in his plans; the trainer hinted that the colt could target the French Guineas provided Precise wins her race and remains fit for Newmarket. Other Ballydoyle hopefuls include True Love and Venosa. On the home side, Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun leads the British contingent.
The filly was dominant as a two‑year‑old, winning her first four starts before finishing third behind Precise in her final Irish outing. Burke also has a strong second string, highlighted by Evolutionist, the winner of the Prix de la Grotte. Charlie Appleby hopes to emulate Desert Flower’s back‑to‑back 1000 Guineas success with his Kempton winner Abashiri, who would become the first horse since Desert Flower to win the race in consecutive years.
Godolphin may also be represented by Andre Fabre’s French prospect My Highness, adding an international flavor to the field. Additional fillies in the mix include Owen Burrows’ runner‑up from the Fred Darling Stakes, Touleen; Ed Walker’s lightly‑raced filly The Prettiest Star; Stuart Williams’ surprise Mill Reef winner Azleet, who claimed the Nell Gwyn Stakes; and the unbeaten Darn Hot Gallop trained by James Tate. Overall, the confirmations on Monday will shape two of the most prestigious Classics of the British flat‑racing season.
With a blend of proven Group winners, promising juveniles stepping up, and a few late‑added entries like Gstaad and Padraig Dawn, both the 2000 Guineas and the 1000 Guineas promise to deliver a highly competitive and internationally diverse field. Trainers are carefully balancing form, fitness, and strategic placement, while owners are weighing the financial implications of supplementary fees against the potential reward of Classic glory. As the final entries are confirmed, racing fans can anticipate a thrilling start to the Classic season, with numerous storylines—from administrative mishaps to last‑minute additions—adding intrigue to the historic Newmarket meetings.