Gstaad has been re‑entered into the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket after a supplementary fee of £30,000 was paid to secure his place. The colt, a product of Aidan O'Brien’s Ballydoyle stable and a winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, was originally omitted from the Classic due to 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 runners who have survived the Monday confirmation stage and remain in contention among the twenty colts still being considered for the event.
The other Ballydoyle entries include the dual Group One victor Puerto Rico, the proven performer Causeway, and the talented Flushing Meadows. Each of these horses has demonstrated the class and stamina required for the Rowley Mile, and their connections will be eager to see how they match up against the field once the final entries are declared. Beyond the Irish contingent, several British trainers have also indicated that their horses may make the journey across the Irish Sea to contest the race. Fozzy Stack’s promising youngster Thesecretadversary and Robson De Aguiar’s Power Blue are both on the radar as potential entrants, while home‑trained Bow Echo will look to extend his unbeaten record over the classic distance on the Rowley Mile.
Another notable Irish prospect is George Boughey’s son of Night Of Thunder, who enjoyed a flawless three‑start campaign last season, culminating in a victory in the Royal Lodge Stakes – a race that is run over the same course and distance as the Guineas. This form line suggests he could be a serious challenger if he makes the final field. Charlie Pike has also submitted a supplementary entry in the form of Padraig Dawn, who finished a close second in the Burradon Stakes at Newcastle on only his second career start. The filly’s rapid progression hints at untapped potential that could be realized over the mile at Newmarket.
Charlie Appleby’s stable may be represented by two horses: the Dewhurst‑placed Distant Storm and the unbeaten King’s Trail. Both have shown the speed and consistency to merit a place in the Classic, and they will add depth to the British contingent.
Roger Varian’s Avicenna is another possible Godolphin‑linked runner, having shown promise in recent prep races. John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon, who bested Avicenna to finish second in the Craven Stakes, also remains in the mix and will be looking to improve on that performance.
Karl Burke could field a trio of runners – Alparslan, the Greenham winner, along with Billecart and Hankelow – providing a strong Irish representation. Meanwhile, French trainer Francis‑Henri Graffard has entered Samangan, his sole international challenger, to test the British and Irish opposition.
Representing Jim Boyle is Into The Sky, who finished a length second in the Mill Reef Stakes towards the end of last season. The colt will be backed by Needle Match, who placed fourth behind Alparslan in the Greenham, and both will aim to reverse their previous form under the guidance of William Haggas. The remaining entries include Andrew Balding’s Venetian Prince and Ismail Mohammed’s Lord Britain, rounding out a field that promises a blend of proven talent and emerging prospects.
On the fillies' side, the ante‑post favourite for the Betfred 1000 Guineas is Precise, one of twenty‑two fillies still under consideration for the race at Newmarket on Sunday. Precise, a daughter of Starspangledbanner, boasts an impressive record of four wins from five starts as a juvenile, highlighted by Group One triumphs in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and the Fillies’ Mile on the Rowley Mile. A spring injury threatened to derail her campaign, but Aidan O'Brien remained optimistic after a recent press conference, confirming that she will be entered at the Monday confirmation stage for the first fillies’ Classic of the year. O'Brien has also kept the unbeaten Diamond Necklace in his plans, suggesting the colt could target the French Guineas provided Precise wins her race and remains fit for Newmarket.
Additional Ballydoyle hopefuls include True Love and Venosa, both of whom could add depth to the Irish contingent. From the home stable, Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun, who was dominant in her first four starts as a two‑year‑old before finishing third behind Precise in her final Irish start, will be a key figure. Burke also has Evolutionist, the Prix de la Grotte winner, as a potential second string, offering a blend of experience and youthful vigor. Charlie Appleby hopes to repeat his success from the previous year with a second 1000 Guineas win, fielding the Kempton victor Abashiri as his primary hope after Desert Flower’s triumph twelve months earlier.
The Godolphin colours may also be represented by Andre Fabre’s French challenger My Highness, adding an international dimension to the fillies’ race. Other notable fillies in the mix include Owen Burrows’ Fred Darling runner‑up Touleen, Ed Walker’s lightly‑raced The Prettiest Star, Stuart Williams’ surprise Nell Gwyn winner Azleet, and the unbeaten Darn Hot Gallop from James Tate’s yard. Each of these horses brings a unique set of credentials and could influence the outcome of the Classic. Overall, the field for both the 2000 Guineas and the 1000 Guineas is shaping up to be a compelling blend of seasoned Group winners, emerging talents, and strategic supplementary entries.
Trainers and owners are carefully weighing form, distance suitability, and the prestige of Newmarket’s Rowley Mile as they finalize their plans. With Gstaad’s reinstatement, the Ballydoyle contingent is particularly strong, and the added depth from British and French runners ensures that the upcoming Classics will be keenly contested and eagerly watched by racing enthusiasts worldwide.