After the hubbub of Cheltenham and Aintree, the Classic season is now inching ever closer. Prior to Pierre Bonnard disappointing in the Derby Trial, Thesecretadversary threw his hat into the ring for the 2000 Guineas.
The Son of St Mark’s Basilica enjoyed a fruitful two-year-old campaign. Second to Italy on debut, he was then second in the Chesham at Royal Ascot. He picked up Listed honours at Tipperary, before a close effort in a Woodbine Grade 1. He returned on Sunday with an impressive performance in the Group 3 Red Rocks Stakes. He beat the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner Power Blue two-lengths, while the two joint-Ballydoyle favourites were sixth and seventh.
Speaking to Racing TV after the race, his trainer Fozzy Stack said: “He did it well. He was a bit unlucky in Canada the last day that he wasn’t a bit closer. He’s in everything so we’ll have a chat and see where we go. He stays well.
“He’s been working well. He ran a good race at Ascot last year and he won that race in Tipperary well. He beat a horse that was second in the Middle Park, so he has a fair level of form.
“He was a little bit keen today. I always thought he might get a mile and a quarter, but looking at that I’d probably say a mile. Not saying that we won’t try a mile and a quarter at some stage
“He’s in every Guineas, bar the Italian! I also entered him in a million dollar race at Keeneland the same day as the English Guineas. But that probably won’t happen now. I’ll talk to the owners.”
True Love ‘definitely something to look forward to’ – Aidan O’Brien
The proceeding race saw True Love land the Priory Belle Stakes in good fashion. The Queen Mary winner later won the Cheveley Park last season, and proved she’s trained on. Speaking after, Aidan O’Brien told Racing TV: “She’s a big, pacy mare, whether she’ll get the mile or not it’s hard to know.
“She had a Group One penalty. She was the first out and waited for them to come and lead her. She’s a big classy filly. She’s definitely something to look forward to. Any time we ever won the Newmarket Guineas the fillies ran here.”
The yard have Precise and Diamond Necklace in the equation too, and O’Brien remarked: “She can go to France if she doesn’t go to Newmarket.”