The Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, which is set to be run at the Curragh this Saturday, is a race with a rich history.
First run in 1921, the race has had a long history of uncovering outstanding racehorses as well as future stallions. Last year the race was won by subsequent Breeders Cup Turf winner, and subsequent Cartier Champion, Magician, whilst other recent winners include Canford Cliffs, Rock Of Gibraltar, and Henrythenavigator.
Sadler’s Wells – painting by Susan Crawford
Arguably Europe’s greatest sire of modern times, Sadler’s Wells won the Irish 2000 Guineas in 1984, when getting better of subsequent Epsom Derby winner Secreto (both colts being sons of the immortal Northern Dancer). Champion sire in GB/Ire on 14 occasions, Sadler’s Wells left his stamp on the Irish 2000 Guineas in no uncertain fashion.
Sadler’s Wells himself was represented by two Irish 2000 Guineas winners (Barathea, Saffron Walden) and is also the broodmare sire of Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo) – victorious in 2008.
Sadler’s Wells’ greatest son, Galileo, himself is the sire of a pair of Irish 2000 Guineas winners – Roderic O’Connor (2011) and Magician (2013).
There is also a strong South African flavour to the Irish 2000 Guineas, with two former winners, Spectrum (himself a proven Grade One sire and excellent broodmare sire) and Black Minnaloushe, standing at stud in this country. Black Minnaloushe, whose offspring also include local Gr1 winners Kochka and Gold Onyx, has been one of the sires of the season with his son Louis The King becoming just the second horse ever to win the SASCOC Triple Crown. Another of the sire’s progeny, Ash Cloud, won this season’s Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks.
The most recent Irish 2000 Guineas winner to make his mark at stud is the 2009 winner, Mastercraftsman (by Danehill Dancer).
The latter, whose first crop are now three, is the sire of last week’s G2 Dante Stakes winner The Grey Gatsby. Four other members of the stallion’s first crop have won group races to date, with this tally including the Group One Racing Post Trophy victor Kingston Hill.
Mastercraftsman, who stands at Coolmore, is not however the first Irish 2000 Guineas winner to make a successful stallion.
The first winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas was Soldennis (Tredennis), whose offspring included dual Irish classic winning filly Soloptic and Irish St Leger winner Sol De Terre. Another son of the 1921 winner was Denis Boy, who scored a major victory when landing the Caulfield Cup – one of Australia’s premier contests – back in 1931.
The 1949 winner Solonaway sired Epsom Oaks winner Sweet Solera before being exported to Japan. Solonaway was subsequently champion sire in Japan in 1966. His Japanese runners included champion filly Bellona, and ill-fated star colt Keystone.
Hugh Lupus, who won the Irish 2000 Guineas of 1958, was a top-class colt, whose wins also included the Champion Stakes. He also proved successful at stud. His offspring included St Leger winner Hethersett (sire of Derby winner and top class sire Blakeney), French 1000 Guineas winner Koblenza, and champion filly Pourparler.
A daughter of Hugh Lupus, Vivandiere, produced South Africa Derby winner Pedlar, and foundered a dynasty in this country. Her descendants include Equus Broodmare Of The Year Loyal Linda, as well as this season’s high-class performer, Hot Ticket, to mention just a few.
Hard Ridden was the first horse to pull off the Irish 2000 Guineas/Epsom Derby double when he won in 1958. A leading sire of 2yos in the UK, Hard Ridden was eventually exported to Japan. However, he left behind an Irish St Leger winner (Giolla Mear) and high-class 2yo Hardicanute. The latter would later find fame as the broodmare sire of Epsom Derby winner and leading sire Shirley Heights. Hardicanture also sired French Derby winner Hard To Beat.
In 1960, the race was won by Kythnos, a son of successful SA sire Drum Beat’s half-brother Nearula. Kythnos left behind Areola, whose wins included the now Group One Phoenix Stakes, as well as the important broodmare Place D’Etoile. The latter’s offspring included two classic winners – including another Irish 2000 Guineas winner in the form of Northern Treasure (by the eventually South African based sire Northfields).
The 1970 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Decies was a top notch racehorse, who also ran second to Horse of the Year Nijinsky II in the Beresford Stakes. At stud in Australasia, Decies’ offspring included champion Dulcify. The ill-fated Dulcify, who broke down in the running of the Melbourne Cup of 1979, was a great champion in Australia, where his wins included the Rosehill Guineas, AJC Derby and Cox Plate.
Spinning World (Nureyev) and Desert King (Danehill), victorious in 1996 and 1997 respectively, were not outstanding sires, but did leave behind a number of smart performers. Desert King’s daughter Makybe Diva made history when becoming the first horse ever to win three Melbourne Cups, whilst Spinning World’s runners include Gr1 Stradbroke Handicap hero and champion sire Thorn Park.
One of the race’s finest winners in modern times was Rock Of Gibraltar, who won the Guineas in 2002. “The Rock”, Horse of the Year in Europe in 2002, reeled off seven Group One wins in a row, and ended his career with an unlucky loss in the Breeders Cup Mile. Rock Of Gibraltar has been a consistently successful sire, with his progeny doing particularly well in South Africa. His Group/Grade One winners include Eagle Mountain, Samitar, Diamondrella, Prince Gibraltar, Varenar, Mount Nelson, and highly promising local sire Seventh Rock.
One of the world’s finest sires today is Dubawi, winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas back in 2005. The son of Dubai Millennium has been represented by 15 Grade/Group One winners to date and has enjoyed a particular fruitful time in 2014. This year, Dubawi has been represented by no fewer than 13 stakes winners (of which four are Gr1 winners).
Dubawi’s tally of Group/Grade One winners includes Sunday’s Gr1 Krisflyer Sprint hero Lucky Nine, a pair of 2000 Guineas winners (Makfi and Night Of Thunder) and former Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso.
