The horse Gstaad has been re‑entered into the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket after a supplementary payment of £30,000 was made to the race organizers. The move comes after a clerical mistake saw the Aidan O'Brien‑trained former Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner mistakenly withdrawn from the Classic, a mishap that also affected Albert Einstein.
While Albert Einstein will remain absent from the field, Gstaad now joins a quartet of Ballydoyle entries that have survived the confirmation stage on Monday. The other three are the dual Group One victor Puerto Rico, the accomplished Causeway, and the promising Flushing Meadows, all of which are among the twenty colts still being considered for the race.
In addition to the Irish contingent, there are a few potential cross‑Channel challengers. Fozzy Stack’s lightly‑raced ThisSecretAdversary and Robson De Aguiar’s Power Blue could be shipped over the Irish Sea to take a shot at the Guineas, while the home‑bred Bow Echo will line up his unbeaten record on the Rowley Mile, looking to maintain his perfect streak.
George Boughey’s son of Night Of Thunder is another notable name. The colt captured all three of his starts last season, capping the campaign with a win in the Royal Lodge Stakes over the exact distance and course of the 2000 Guineas, suggesting he will be a serious contender. A second supplementary entry comes from Charlie Pike’s Padraig Dawn, who impressed by finishing a close second in the Burradon Stakes at Newcastle in just his second start.
Charlie Appleby may be represented twice, with the Dewhurst‑placed Distant Storm and the unbeaten King’s Trail both slated to travel to Newmarket. Roger Varian could also send a runner for the Godolphin stable in the form of Avicenna, who has shown good form in recent prep races. John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon, who turned the tables on Avicenna by beating him into second in the Craven Stakes, also remains in the entry list, maintaining his competitive edge. Karl Burke might field a trio of horses: Greenham winner Alparslan, the promising Billecart, and the sturdy Hankelow, giving him a strong representation across the field.
From the continent, the sole international entrant is Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Samangan, adding a dash of foreign intrigue. Jim Boyle’s Into The Sky, a length‑second in the Mill Reef at the end of last season, will be backed by the experienced trainer William Haggas, while Needle Match, who finished fourth behind Alparslan in the Greenham, hopes to reverse his form under Haggas’ guidance.
Andrew Balding’s Venetian Prince and Ismail Mohammed’s Lord Britain round out the remaining slots, completing a diverse and international field. Turning to the Betfred 1000 Guineas, the ante‑post favourite is Precise, one of twenty‑two fillies still in contention for the classic scheduled for Sunday at Newmarket. Precise is a daughter of Starspangledbanner and enjoyed a brilliant juvenile campaign, winning four of five starts, including two Group One triumphs: the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and the Fillies' Mile over the Rowley Mile.
Although a spring setback threatened to derail her preparation for the first Sunday in May, Aidan O'Brien remained optimistic during a recent press briefing, confirming that Precise will be entered in the first fillies’ Classic of the season at the Monday confirmation stage. The Ballydoyle stable has also retained the unbeaten Diamond Necklace, who may be aimed at the French Guineas if Precise wins her race and remains fit for the Newmarket meeting.
Other O'Brien‑trained fillies in the mix include True Love and Venosa, all looking to add to the stable’s impressive record in the classics. Representing the home‑trained side in the 1000 Guineas, Karl Burke’s Venetian Sun arrives after an impressive two‑year‑old campaign that saw her win her first four starts before taking third behind Precise in her final Irish outing. Burke also has a second string of interest in the Prix de la Grotte winner Evolutionist, who could be a dark horse if conditions suit.
Charlie Appleby’s only hope of achieving back‑to‑back 1000 Guineas victories after the triumph of Desert Flower a year ago is the Kempton winner Abashiri, who will be looking to repeat his classic success. The Godolphin colours could also be carried by French trainer Andre Fabre’s potential challenger My Highness, adding another layer of international competition. Other fillies slated to contest the race include the Owen Burrows‑trained Fred Darling runner‑up Touleen, the lightly‑raced The Prettiest Star from Ed Walker, Stuart Williams’ surprise Mill Reef winner Azleet, and the unbeaten Darn Hot Gallop trained by James Tate.
All of these horses, together with the leading contenders, will vie for the coveted Guineas titles, promising a thrilling weekend of top‑flight flat racing at Newmarket.