Camelot to face 17 rivals in Series opener

Born To Sea, with Johnny Murtagh in the saddle, heads to the start at The Curragh last year. Can he topple Camelot and emulate his brother, Sea The Stars, by winning the QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Saturday? Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Saturday’s QIPCO 2000 Guineas, which promises to launch the 2012 QIPCO British Champions Series in scintillating style, has attracted a star-studded field of 18 runners.

There is a fascinating mixture of horses with top class form from last season but who have yet to race this year, talking horses with little form in the book but big home reputations, and challengers that have already proved their wellbeing with Guineas trial victories last month. 

One thing is for certain. Camelot, joint champion two-year-old in Europe last year, albeit with the lowest rating for a European juvenile champion in more than a decade, will start a very warm favourite.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt has always had a big reputation and his impressive victory in last year’s Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster sealed his position as the winter favourite for both the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and Investec Derby at Epsom in June.

The fact that he has yet to race this season and has only two races under his belt from last year is of far less concern than the mile trip which he faces on Saturday. Will it prove too short for a horse bred to excel over middle distances this season?

Young Joseph O’Brien, just 18 years-old but already displaying all the hallmarks of a top class jockey, takes the ride for his dad while the other O’Brien challenger, Power, who with six races under his belt last season has a lot more experience but probably lacks the star quality which Camelot may possess, will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

Two other lightly raced rivals with big reputations that Camelot must overcome are the Roger Charlton-trained Top Offer, who won a maiden race impressively last year on his only start to date, and the twice-raced Born To Sea, who has a lot to live up to as three-parts brother to Sea The Stars, the winner of this race, the Investec Derby, Coral-Eclipse, Juddmonte International, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in a stunning 2009 season. 

Top Offer was denied a run last month because of the soft ground, while Born To Sea tore a muscle when beaten on his second start last year after a very impressive debut victory. Will they have what it takes to win a Guineas?

Those who have already proved themselves in Britain this year are headed by the ultra-impressive Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes winner, Trumpet Major, who romped home by five lengths, and the Aon Greenham Stakes winner, Caspar Netscher, who looks sure to run another solid race on Saturday.

The three French challengers, who occupied the first three places in France’s main Guineas trial, the seven furlong Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte in Paris last month, must also come firmly into the reckoning.

French Fifteen prevailed by a neck that day, but runner-up Abtaal finished very strongly and should improve significantly for the step up to a mile, a comment that also applies to the third horse, Hermival.

There are plenty of interesting outsiders and a titanic battle on the most historic stretch of sporting turf in the world is guaranteed on Saturday, but who will emerge triumphant?  

The bookies will fear a Camelot victory, but the value would appear to lie with some of the promising colts at longer odds. Trumpet Major could have a big shout after proving himself over course and distance last month, while Born To Sea could be another superstar son for his mother, Urban Sea.

Get along to Newmarket if you can – tickets will be available at the gate – or tune in to Channel 4 to catch all the action live. The QIPCO 2000 Guineas is due off at 3.10pm on a fantastic afternoon of sport at the Home of Racing.

For the full QIPCO 2000 Guineas field just click on the "View Race Entries" button after CLICKING HERE.

And don’t forget to get your entries in for the free-to-enter QIPCO British Champions Series fantasy game, which starts with the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. It’s quick and easy to enter and will guarantee you a lot of free fun over the next six months!  

For more information and to enter, CLICK HERE.