John Gosden has never won the 2000 Guineas, whether on his own, or in conjunction with son Thady. As with last season, they have set up a strong bid for the opening Classic with a Craven Stakes winner.
Oxagon had only won once in his five starts at two, though was a consistent contender at a high level. After defeat on debut, he won at Sandown by eight lengths, then raced only in Group 2 or Group 1 company.
His second to Puerto Rico in Doncaster’s Champagne Stakes was franked significantly by the season’s end. Despite being a maiden entering the race, Puerto Rico won two Group 1s by the the end of October. However, Oxagon failed to land a blow in the Dewhurst Stakes or Futurity Trophy, with stumps drawn until his three-year-old campaign thereafter.
This was an impressive comeback in an admittedly depleted field. Always prominent, Oisin Murphy pushed the accelerator to kick clear from his rivals for a two-length success. The absence of key challengers Hawk Mountain and Hankelow take the gloss of the race slightly. Nevetrheless, he will be another Craven winner for the Gosdens to head into 2000 Guineas contention with.
Beginning Thursday with best odds of 50/1 to win the opening Classic, he is now as short as 12/1 in places and 16/1 generally.
“Things come easy to him” – Gosden
Unlike those looking in from the outside at his form, John Gosden was unperturbed by Oxagon’s slow end to 2025. There has always been the prospect of more to come form him.
As reported by Sky Sports, Gosden said after his Craven victory: “We were saying after he won at Sandown, we had a high opinion of him and we probably let the race get away at Doncaster (Champagne Stakes), but we’ll probably see the winner Puerto Rico back here in two weeks’ time.
“I would admit he was a tad disappointing in the Dewhurst – after being one of the last off the bridle he didn’t seem to finish off up the hill. We stupidly ran him in heavy ground at Doncaster in the Futurity, but thankfully the jockey was cleverer than me and pulled him up after two furlongs and just let him enjoy his day out.”
One of the main factors credited for his Group race breakthrough was the addition of cheekpieces. They certainly appeared to have a strong effect late on in the race, run over the 2000 Guineas course and distance.
“He’s trained well and the addition of cheekpieces has just focused his mind,” Gosden continued. “We popped them on for a piece of work and liked the way he went in them and I think it’s just focused him.
“Things come easy to him and he’s quite dreamy at home, always looking for low-flying seagulls, so it’s just keeping him on the job at hand.”
Oxagon is now the Gosdens’ shortest-priced runner for the 2000 Guineas, which takes place on Saturday 2 May 2026.