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 The colt, a product of Aidan O'Brien’s stable and the winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, was originally withdrawn from the Classic because of an administrative oversight, a mistake that also affected Albert Einstein.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 to the Monday confirmation stage. These include the dual Group One champion Puerto Rico, the promising Causeway, and the talented Flushing Meadows, all of whom are among the twenty colts still being considered for the field.
In addition to the Irish entries, there are several British-trained runners who may make the journey across the Irish Sea. Fozzy Stack’s ThisSecretAdversary and Robson De Aguiar’s Power Blue are both being looked at as possible contenders, while the home‑trained Bow Echo will be looking to maintain 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 distance—also remains in the mix. A second supplementary entry comes from Charlie Pike’s Padraig Dawn, who placed second in the Burradon Stakes at Newcastle in only his second career start.
Charlie Appleby may field a double representation with the Dewhurst‑placed Distant Storm and the unbeaten King’s Trail, while Roger Varian’s Avicenna is another possible Godolphin‑linked runner. John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon, who beat Avicenna into second place in the Craven Stakes, also stays on the card and could prove a strong factor.
Karl Burke may turn out a triple threat with Greenham winner Alparslan, along with Billecart and Hankelow, while Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Samangan stands as the sole continental challenger. Representing Jim Boyle, Into The Sky—a length second in the Mill Reef at the end of last season—will try to improve on that form, while Needle Match, who finished fourth behind Alparslan in the Greenham, will attempt to reverse his previous result for trainer William Haggas. The field is rounded out by Andrew Balding’s Venetian Prince and Ismail Mohammed’s Lord Britain.
Turning to the fillies' side, the ante‑post favourite Precise is one of twenty‑two fillies still being considered for the Betfred 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday. The daughter of Starspangledbanner has won four of her five juvenile starts, 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 Aidan O'Brien remained optimistic after a press conference last week, confirming that Precise will be entered in the first fillies’ Classic of the year at Monday’s confirmation stage. O'Brien has also retained the unbeaten Diamond Necklace, who could be aimed at the French Guineas provided Precise wins her race and stays fit for Newmarket.
Other Ballydoyle fillies in the mix include True Love and Venosa. On the home front, Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun, who was dominant in her first four starts at two before finishing a respectable third behind Precise in Ireland, will lead the British contingent. Burke also has a strong second string featuring Evolutionist, the winner of the Prix de la Grotte.
Charlie Appleby hopes to secure back‑to‑back 1000 Guineas victories with Kempton winner Abashiri, the only horse in his stable capable of repeating Desert Flower’s triumph from a year ago. The Godolphin colours may also be represented by Andre Fabre’s potential French challenger My Highness. Other notable fillies 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 races at Newmarket. Overall, the 2000 Guineas field is shaping up to be a blend of proven Group winners, promising juveniles stepping up in distance, and a few international entrants seeking to make an impact on British soil.
The inclusion of Gstaad after the supplementary fee underscores the high stakes and the willingness of owners to invest heavily to keep their top prospects in contention. Meanwhile, the 1000 Guineas sees a strong Irish presence led by Precise, complemented by a solid British contingent that includes seasoned campaigners and rising stars. As the confirmation stage approaches, trainers will finalize their entries, and punters will have a full picture of the talent pool, setting the scene for what promises to be an exciting weekend of Classic racing at Newmarket.