Leading 2000 Guineas contender Talk Of New York was a comfortable winner at Newmarket on Tuesday. The son of Night Of Thunder headlined the opening day of the Craven meeting at flat HQ.
Talk Of New York was sent off the 8/11 favourite in a five-runner field. He had disappointed when a similar price at Meydan in February, but that eyecatching run saw him finish third at Listed level. That saw him become the subject of ante-post support for the 2000 Guineas.
Held up in first-time headgear by William Buick, Charlie Appleby’s charge cruised into contention three furlongs from home. Asked for a sprint finish, he delivered to win eased down by three lengths from runner-up Lost Signal.
With two wins secured from three starts, stakes races now await. Appleby won the 2000 Guineas last year courtesy of Ruling Court and will now be dreaming of back-to-back successes in the opening Classic of the season.
“All I wanted the horse to do was settle” – Appleby
After meeting with defeat in Dubai, it was back to the drawing board for Appleby. Headgear was applied, with the main intention getting him to race patiently.
It worked a treat, as his rivals were dispatched with the minimum of fuss. The brief was not even all about victory according to his trainer either.
Speaking to the Sporting Life, Appleby said, “we are back on track. Today was a day where I stood there and was relaxed if he got beat as all I wanted the horse to do was settle and race the right way for the future. We ticked two boxes in that he settled, and went and won. I’ve dropped him back in trip to seven furlongs, and applied the hood.
“The hood we have noticed has made a big difference at home, if anything a bit too much, but I didn’t want to be too confident today by taking the hood off. I was happy to leave the hood on, and if it meant that we got beat because we were too settled, then so be it. He is a horse that next time I will take the hood off.
“The way he travelled, and the way he handled the dip, people might have expected to see that acceleration, but this was seven furlongs with a hood on.”
Talk Of New York’s price was largely unchanged towards the head of the betting. He remains second favourite behind clear market leader Bow Echo for 2000 Guineas glory.