Aidan O’Brien was left scratching his head over scratchings on Tuesday. His three-year-old colts Albert Einstein and Gstaad were both erroneously removed from the 2000 Guineas.
The opening Classic of the flat campaign is a little over a month away. It could be argued that between them, Gstaad and Albert Einstein represented the two best Ballydoyle hopes for the colts contest at Newmarket. That is despite Albert Einstein meeting with defeat at the Curragh on Saturday.
However, in an unusual error, O’Brien’s team accidentally removed the pair from the 2000 Guineas. Under the rules stipulated by the BHA, such scratchings can immediately be made public. Their system does not allow for horses to be added back once removed.
As such, news broke on Tuesday morning that the pair were non-runners in the 2000 Guineas. O’Brien, therefore, was forced to clarify the situation.
Speaking to the Press Association, via the Guardian, O’Brien explained: “There was a blip on the computer. Something happened, the computer went bananas and took out a couple of horses that weren’t meant to be taken out.”
Dante/Guineas mix-up means supplementary entries required
Scratchings were also set to be made for races further down the line during the flat season. With Albert Einstein and Gstaad’s careers set to take place at 1m or shorter, the intention was to remove them from the 1m2f Dante Stakes at York, a more recognised trial for the Epsom Derby. According to O’Brien, this was when the mishap began.
“The people here in the office were trying to take the horses out of the Dante, but the Guineas flashed up instead and the button was pressed. They were pressing for the Dante, but as they were pressing, the Guineas flashed up.”
After a brief shake-up of the betting market, Gstaad and Albert Einstein reappeared in the 2000 Guineas odds. O’Brien went on to state that the intention could still be to run either or both. Were that to be the case, they would each receive a supplementary payment and entry.
“We will supplement them come the time if that’s what the lads decide to do,” O’Brien confirmed in his traditional fashion.
It had looked unlikely that Albert Einstein would head to the 2000 Guineas either way. The colt, talked of so highly over the winter, could finish only sixth on his return in the 7f Gladness Stakes at the Curragh. O’Brien had appeared to strongly hint that sprinting may be more his game.
Conversely, Gstaad has not been seen since winning at the Breeders’ Cup last autumn. He has unfinished business in Britain and Ireland after finishing second on his last three runs closer to home.