Gstaad has been re‑entered into the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket after a supplementary payment of £30,000 was made to secure his place. The decision came after an administrative oversight mistakenly removed the Aidan O'Brien‑trained Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner from the Classic entry list, a mistake that also affected Albert Einstein.
While Albert Einstein will still miss the race, Gstaad joins three other Ballydoyle runners who have survived the Monday confirmation stage. Those fellow Irish‑trained prospects are the dual Group One victor Puerto Rico, the talented Causeway and the promising Flushing Meadows, all of whom are among the twenty colts still being considered for the event. In addition to the Irish contingent, there are several British‑trained horses that could make the crossing of the Irish Sea to contest the race.
Fozzy Stack’s colt Thesecretadversary and Robson De Aguiar’s Power Blue are both potential entrants, while home‑grown Bow Echo will aim to preserve his unbeaten record over the Rowley Mile. George Boughey’s son of Night Of Thunder, who captured three victories last season—including a win in the Royal Lodge Stakes over the same course and distance as the Guineas—has also been listed as a possible challenger. A second supplemental entry comes from Charlie Pike, whose Padraig Dawn finished a close second in the Burradon Stakes at Newcastle on only his second career start.
This performance has earned the colt a place on the shortlist for the Classic. Trainer Charlie Appleby could be represented by two runners: Distant Storm, a third‑place finisher in the Dewhurst, and the unbeaten King’s Trail.
Godolphin’s Roger Varian may also field Avicenna, while John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon, who beat Avicenna into second place in the Craven Stakes, remains in contention. Karl Burke might turn out three horses—Alparslan, the Greenham winner; Billecart; and Hankelow—while French trainer Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Samangan stands as the sole international challenger on the card.
Jim Boyle’s Into The Sky, who finished a length behind the winner in the Mill Reef at the end of last season, will represent Needle Match. William Haggas will also enter the field with Alparslan’s fourth‑place finish in the Greenham as a reference point for his chances. Andrew Balding’s Venetian Prince and Ismail Mohammed’s Lord Britain round out the remaining British entries, completing a diverse field that blends proven Group performers with rising prospects.
Turning to the Betfred 1000 Guineas, the ante‑post favourite is Precise, one of twenty‑two fillies still slated to contest the race on Sunday. Precise, a daughter of Starspangledbanner, boasts an impressive juvenile record of 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‑time setback threatened to derail her campaign, but trainer Aidan O'Brien remained optimistic after a recent press conference, confirming that she will line up for the first fillies' Classic of the year at Monday's confirmation stage.
O'Brien has also retained the unbeaten Diamond Necklace, who may be aimed at the French Guineas provided Precise stays fit for the Newmarket meeting, as well as the promising True Love and Venosa. The home‑trained contingent is led by Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun, who was dominant in her first four starts as a two‑year‑old before finishing a respectable third behind Precise in her final Irish start. Burke’s second string includes Evolutionist, the Prix de la Grotte winner, adding depth to his stable. Charlie Appleby hopes to secure back‑to‑back 1000 Guineas victories with Kempton winner Abashiri, the only horse in his yard capable of repeating Desert Flower’s success from a year ago.
Godolphin could also be represented by Andre Fabre’s potential French challenger My Highness. Other notable fillies in the mix are Owen Burrows’ 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 stable.
Each of these horses brings a distinct set of credentials, ranging from proven Group success to promising early form, ensuring that the 1000 Guineas will be a highly competitive affair. Overall, the 2000 Guineas field now features a blend of Irish and British talent, with Gstaad’s reinstatement adding another high‑class option for the bookmakers.
The race promises to be a showcase of speed and stamina over the Rowley Mile, as trainers and owners vie for one of the most prestigious Classic victories of the season. Meanwhile, the 1000 Guineas remains a focal point for fillies, with Precise leading the market but a strong contingent of challengers ready to test her dominance.
Both Classics will set the tone for the remainder of the flat season, offering a glimpse of the next generation of middle‑distance stars.