Weekend Review: Aidan O'Brien lands Guineas double

The 2000 Guineas was the racing highlight in Europe on Saturday and Camelot got the better of French Fifteen in a thrilling finish to the first British classic of the season, giving jockey Joseph O'Brien his first win in the race on his maiden ride. Camelot, who traded at no bigger than 5.04/1 in running despite looking an unlikely winner at halfway, began to make headway late on, scything through the pack to hit the front close home, his stamina kicking in in the final throws. Camelot's victory ensured he remains favourite for the Epsom Derby on June 2, a race for which the Timeform 123p-rated colt is available to back at (2.35/4). Hermival finished best of those on the far side in third, lacking the finishing effort of the first two.

Al Kazeem had marked himself a horse of the highest level earlier on the card when a runaway winner of the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes over a mile and a half. Held up by James Doyle in the early part of the race, Al Kazeem travelled strongly throughout and made rapid headway inside the final half mile, getting to the front on the bridle and quickening clear of his seven rivals. The Timeform rating of 125 achieved was a career-best and the way he stayed on powerfully to the line was impressive. The Coronation Cup could be next on the agenda for the Roger Charlton-trained four-year-old.

The other Group race at HQ on Saturday was the Group 3 Palace House Stakes which was won by Mayson with something to spare, despite being badly positioned as the race transpired. Held up on the far flank, Mayson displayed a brilliant turn of foot under Paul Hanagan inside the closing stages to pull three quarters of a length clear of Definightly and Elusivity. Post-race Hanagan stated that he felt the Richard Fahey-trained four-year-old would improve for a step back up to six furlongs, the now 124-rated colt likely to head for the Duke of York Stakes next.

Noble Mission marked himself down as a potential classic horse later in the afternoon when a cosy winner of the listed Newmarket Stakes over ten furlongs. Noble Mission travelled well for much of the race but was forced to concede first run to Mariner's Cross and the previously unraced Michelangelo having found himself trapped in a pocket as the race began in earnest. He eventually threaded a passage and wore down the pair late on, winning by a neck but with plenty left in the tank. Noble Mission was doing his best work at the end of Saturday's race and the step up to a mile and a half in the Derby shouldn't pose the full-brother to Frankel too many problems.

There was also listed action at Goodwood on Saturday afternoon with Vita Nova taking the Daisy Warwick Stakes despite looking in trouble three furlongs out, and Boastful springing a surprise in the Conqueror Stakes, defeating Winter's Night by a length and a half. A step up in grade is now likely to be on the agenda for Vita Nova who plied her trade in some of the very best filly and mares' races last season.

The 1000 Guineas was the highlight on Sunday and Homecoming Queen put in a top performance to make every yard of the running, beating Starscope by nine lengths with Maybe back in third. Homecoming Queen bounced out well from the gate and immediately took two lengths out of the field under Betfair columnist Ryan Moore. She continued to travel well throughout and quickened away from the field going into the dip, running out a very decisive winner. The Fugue stayed on well in fourth for John Gosden and that one is now likely to head to Epsom for the Oaks, a contest for which she is available to back at (13.525/2). Homecoming Queen's victory completed a Guineas double for Aidan O'Brien who achieved the same feat in 2005.

The Dahlia Stakes was the other Pattern highlight on the Newmarket card and Izzi Top demonstrated a smart turn of foot to get the better of Captivator and Primevere. Timepiece of Sir Henry Cecil was sent off favourite for the Group 3 but was always badly positioned towards the rear of the field in what appeared a steadily-run race. Izzi Top quickened best of those at the head of affairs and stayed on well to the line with a step up in grade now likely for the Gosden-trained Oaks third.

The big handicap of the afternoon went the way of Maarek and Joseph O'Brien, that pair defeating Shropshire of the Charlie Hills yard into second. Colonel Mak plugged on for third having travelled well for much of the way with Parisian Pyramid back in fourth. Maarek remains on an upward curve and it won't be too long until he is seen contesting lower grade pattern races over six furlongs.

New Pearl was the impressive winner of a decent-looking juvenile maiden, showing good tactical speed early on to grab the lead and demonstrating a decisive turn of foot to land an easy debut victory. New Pearl looked to have plenty of ability and could next be seen at Royal Ascot in one of the two-year-old sprints races given the way he went about his business. Emirates Echo stayed on well for an encouraging second with Godolphin's Gold Hunter in third.

The Pretty Polly Stakes was won by Godolphin's Kailani, the three-year-old daughter of 1000 Guineas and Oaks heroine Kazzia routing the field to record a seven-length victory under Mickael Barzalona, putting herself firmly in the Epsom picture. Hazel Lavery finished in second whilst Lacily came third, having made much of the early running under Frankie Dettori.

Roger Charlton's Cityscape was Britain's main representative abroad this weekend, that one a disappointing tenth in the Hong Kong Champions Mile. the Saeed bin Suroor-trained African Story of also ran, finishing sixth, in a contest won for the second year in a row by Xtension, formerly trained by Clive Cox.

Daddy Long Legs fared even worse in the Kentucky Derby, finishing last of 20 under Colm O'Donoghue. Daddy Long Legs has disappointed on two outings on the dirt surface at Churchill Downs and a European turf campaign surely beckons.