Big Race History: The 2,000 Guineas

Events / Malcolm Pannett / 01 May 2009 / Leave a Comment

Henrythenavigator addeed his name to a glorious roll-call of winners last year, Malcolm Pannett identifies some of the other notable victors and runners in the 200 year history of the Newmarket classic.

The 2000 Guineas is one of the most pre-eminent races of the flat season. It is currently the first Classic of the season to be run and also the first leg of the colts' Triple Crown. Accordingly the roll of honour is littered with the legends of the turf.

Inaugurated by the Jockey Club in 1809, under the aegis of Sir Charles Bunbury, the name reflects the original guaranteed prize money on offer. That purse didn't go far from its source as the first winner Wizard, ridden by Bill Clift, was owned by Christopher Wilson a senior member of the Jockey Club.

Bunbury himself owned the 1813-winner Smolensko who became the first of 34 horses to go on to win the Derby, the most recent being Nashwan in 1989. Of those 15 also won the St Leger to gain the Triple Crown starting with West Australian (1853) trained by John Scott who is the winning most handler with seven winners of the 2000 Guineas between 1842 and 1862.

The others to complete the Triple Crown, named after King Lear's head attire, are Gladiateur (1865), Lord Lyon (1866), Ormonde (1886), Common (1891), Isinglass (1893), Galtee More (1897), Flying Fox (1899), Diamond Jubilee (1900), Rock Sand (1903), Pommern (1915), Gay Crusader (1917), Gainsborough (1918), Bahram (1935) and Nijinsky (1970).

The emphasis of modern breeding on speed over stamina makes it unlikely that the list will increase.

Newmarket-based Jem Robinson holds the record for riding most winners with nine 2000 Guineas successes on his home track between 1825 and 1848. While Sue Magnier has co-owned six winners of the race in the past 12 years, including last year's 200th anniversary-winner Henrythenavigator, beating the previous shared record of the 4th Duke of Grafton and 5th Earl of Jersey who owned five each outright.

Three winners have been owned by reigning monarchs; Edward VII's Minoru (see below), George VI's Big Game (1942) and the Queen's Pall Mall (1958).

In 1980 Nureyev, who was named after the famous Russian dancer, was faced with a wall of horses blocking his passage. Instead of going around Philippe Paquet decided on the direct route and barged his way through. Nureyev won by a head but was disqualified and placed last by the stewards with Known Fact inheriting the victory.

Other notable winners include Sir Tatton Sykes (1846), who missed out on the Triple crown as in the Derby his rider was drunk; Sceptre (1902), the over-raced winner of four Classics; Brigadier Gerard (1971), joint-second highest rated horse by Timeform who beat Mill Reef and My Swallow in a memorable renewal; Dancing Brave (1986), subsequent Arc-winner; Zafonic (1993), European Champion Two-Year-Old and the enigmatic 'gorgeous' George Washington (2006).

Only two runners competed in 1829 and 1830, Rockavon boasts the longest starting price when he sprung a 66-1 surprise in 1961 while Moslem and Formosa dead-heated in 1868.

100 years ago - Victory for the King with Minoru who obliged at 4-1 with favourite Bayardo only fourth. The son of Ascot Gold Cup-winner Cyllene added to Edward VII's Classic haul by taking The Derby as well. However he failed in the St Leger and was therefore unable to emulate Diamond Jubilee who had won the Triple Crown nine years before when his owner was Prince of Wales.

25 years ago - An exceptional renewal saw El Gran Senor assert his authority over a quality field including Chief Singer, Lear Fan, Rainbow Quest, Keen and the French-trained Bountiful. Vincent O'Brien's son of Northern Dancer took up the running from the pace-setting Lear Fan just before the furlong pole and had two and half lengths to spare over Chief Singer at the line.

10 years ago - A win for Frankie Dettori on 10-1shot Island Sands who led the far side group throughout. The son of Turtle Island had to pull out all the stops to hold Enrique who had been momentarily stopped in his run three furlongs out but ran on bravely to get to within a neck with Mujahid third. Island Sands disappointed in the Irish version then finished second a couple of times in France before picking up a consolation win in a conditions stakes at Haydock two years later.

Five years ago - With the stalls positioned in the centre of the course the field sub-divided into many groups and were spread out all over Newmarket. Haafhd slipstreamed Golden Sahara, a pacemaker for Snow Ridge, moving to the lead at the two furlong marker. The son of Alhaarth, who ended his season with victory in the Champion Stakes, saw out the trip well eventually repelling runner-up Snow Ridge by a length and three quarters. Azamour and Grey Swallow followed them home while favourite One Cool Cat failed to fire managing to beat only one of the 14-strong field.

Last Year - A classic finish to celebrate the Classic's 200th birthday as Henrythenavigator joined New Approach at the furlong pole. The son of Kingmambo got his head in front but the subsequent Derby-winner wouldn't give in and the pair battled all the way to the line with Johnny Murtagh's mount just prevailing by a nose with four lengths back to Stubbs Art in third. Henrythenavigator added the Irish version and the St James's Palace Stakes and ended his career finishing second to Raven's Pass in both the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic.