Saturday sees the running of the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, which is the first race in the Champions Series, followed by the QIPCO 1000 Guineas for the fillies 24 hours later.
Aidan O’Brien (photo: Coolmore)
Aidan O’Brien won 13 of the 35 QIPCO British Champions Series races last year and a dozen of them contributed to his world record tally of 28 Gr 1 wins in the year.
The QIPCO Guineas Festival features the opening two Classic races of the year, the QIPCO 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas and is one of the most important fixtures in international Flat racing
The QIPCO 2,000 Guineas boasts an impressive roll of honour including the unforgettable Frankel.
With a stake of £500,000, the 2,000 Guineas is one of the most lucrative Flat races in Europe as well as being one of the most prestigious. Aidan O’Brien is the king of the race as he has trained eight winners, most recently Churchill in 2017
O’Brien dominates the betting for the 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas and Derby, and has the first two in the Oaks market.
Gustav Klimt was installed as the favourite for the 2000 Guineas after swooping through late in the day to capture the Ballylinch Stud 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown.
Aidan O’Brien’s runner had been off the track since winning the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket last July, but punters were all over him that day, sending him off the 6/4 favourite for the seven-furlong event.
His stablemate and last year’s European champion two-year-old U S Navy Flag disappointed in the same race, trailing home last of the four runners.
Racing fans travel from far and wide to soak up the electric atmosphere as Europe’s finest horses descend on the Rowley Mile.
