Qipco 2000 Guineas
Group 1, Newmarket 16:40
£500,000 guaranteed,
3yo only,
1m, Class 1  
Saturday 4th May 2024

FormRatings

1 Notable Speech 16/1
2 Rosallion 15/2
3 Haatem 16/1
11 ran Distances: 1½l, 1¾l, 1¼l
Time: 1m 37.21s (slow by 1.21s)

The unbeaten Notable Speech roared clear of a classy field to win under William Buick. A first win in the race for the Champion jockey.

Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy was the short-priced favourite but looked under pressure early on and faded out of the race entirely, leaving 16-1 chance Notable Speech to take up the lead.

Under William Buick, the Charlie Appleby-trained chestnut then pulled away to win comfortably with the Richard Hannon duo of Rosallion and Haatem behind him.

Buick, who was winning the Classic for the first time, told ITV Racing: "He really was impressive. He's the kind of horse who I've not known for that long. I came back from Dubai and rode him in February and here we are. 

"I've not very often believed in a horse as much as this guy. I've had that much belief in him and sometimes you go home at night and think 'have I lost the plot all together?' because that's how he does things, he does it so easily and his change of gear is incredible.

"The race couldn't have worked out any better, fair play to the team he was in great form today. He's done nothing but improve. I've gone close in the 2,000 Guineas a few times so I'm over the moon. These races are incredibly hard to win but I'm overjoyed.

"He's an out-and-out miler, he's all about speed. He's got a strong mind, I really think he's a horse who is going to keep improving."

Future options for the winner include the St James's Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot next month. It is his only current entry. The last horse to do that particular double was the ill-fated Coroebus in the same silks two years ago.

The winner was giving Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation a fifth success in Britain's first Classic after triumphs with Mark Of Esteem (1996), Island Sands (1999), Dawn Approach (2013) and Coroebus (2022). Pennekamp also struck in the sheikh's maroon silks in 1995.

Ghostwriter finished a creditable fourth for Clive Cox and Richard Kingscote while Alyanaabi got the better of Inisherin for fifth.

Boylesports Races

Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes
(British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£500,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (6)    Notable Speech 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick 16/1
2 (4) 1½ Rosallion 3 9-2 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 15/2
3 (5) 1¾ Haatem 3 9-2 Richard Hannon James Doyle 16/1
4 (3) 1¼ Ghostwriter 3 9-2 Clive Cox Richard Kingscote 14/1
5 (8) nk Alyanaabi 3 9-2 Owen Burrows Jim Crowley 11/1
6 (7) nse Inisherin 3 9-2 Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves 40/1
7 (9) 2 Task Force 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett Rossa Ryan 16/1
8 (10) 5 Ten Bob Tony 3 9-2 Ed Walker Saffie Osborne 40/1
9 (2) 5 City Of Troy 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 4/6F
10 (1) 13 Night Raider 3 9-2 K R Burke Daniel Tudhope 25/1
11 (11) 13 Iberian 3 9-2 Charles Hills Tom Marquand 33/1