The wait for the flat season always feels like a long time, but once it is here, the story of the latest campaign unfolds at a seemingly breakneck pace. Barely into May, the first Classics of the season are already in the books, with the Derby meeting at Epsom and Royal Ascot now hurtling into view. Punters will be hoping that the many thrilling contests to come are a little more predictable than the Newmarket double bill, which produced 16/1 and 28/1 winners, with the market leaders sinking without a trace.
Whilst the Guineas winners were difficult to find on the day, the two contests over the Rowley Mile can be amongst the most useful when attempting to unearth winners for the season ahead.
As races that attract the cream of the crop from the various British and Irish yards, it makes sense that the opening Classics of the season may throw up a subsequent winner or two. Just because a horse wasn’t quite good enough on the day, that doesn’t mean they won’t go on to glory in the ensuing months.
So, what exactly can we expect from those runners who lined up at Newmarket? Here, we look back at the past two editions of the 2,000 Guineas, highlighting a selection of performers who didn’t manage to get their head in front at HQ but proved more than up to winning at a later date.
2023
We’ll start with those who missed out on the 2,000 Guineas in 2023 but made amends later on.
August Rodin
- 2,000 Guineas Finishing Position – 12th
- Trainer – Aidan O’Brien
- Sire – Deep Impact
It was not a vintage year by Guineas standards – far from it in fact, with only three of the 14 runners going on to win during the remainder of the 2022/23 season. However, 2023 may have produced one of the most talented “also-rans” in the history of the race. Flopping spectacularly at Newmarket, Auguste Rodin went on to win four Group 1s in the shape of the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby, the Irish Champion Stakes, and the Breeders’ Cup Turf. There may be hope yet for 2024 disappointment City Of Troy.
Flight Plan
- 2,000 Guineas Finishing Position – 13th
- Trainer – Karl Burke
- Sire – Night Of Thunder
Sired by a 2,000 Guineas winner and spoken of in glowing terms by Karl Burke, Flight Plan looked a decent outside bet for the Guineas, only to run as though way out of his depth. However, that pedigree and potential were belatedly delivered upon when Flight Plan won the Group 2 Dullingham Park Stakes on his final start at three.
Little Big Bear
- 2,000 Guineas Finishing Position – 14th
- Trainer – Aidan O’Brien
- Sire – No Nay Never
By strong speed influence No Nay Never, stretching out to a mile always appeared to be a tall order for Little Big Bear, and so it proved on the day, with the horse trailing home dead last of the 14 runners. However, returned to a more suitable trip, the Ballydoyle star landed the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in fine style.
2022
So let’s take a look back to 2022 to discover what became of the 2,000 Guineas also-rans. There were only three subsequent winners in 2023, but the 2022 edition was stacked with them.
Native Trail
- 2,000 Guineas Finishing Position – 2nd
- Trainer – Charlie Appleby
- Sire – Oasis Dream
First up, we have this talented Charlie Appleby star. Magnificent in winning all four juvenile starts, Native Trail started as the hot favourite at Newmarket, only to find stablemate Coroebus almost a length too good. Whilst never so dominant as he was at two, Native Trail did add a further Group 1 to his CV when landing the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.
Luxembourg
- 2,000 Guineas Finishing Position – 3rd
- Trainer – Aidan O’Brien
- Sire – Camelot
Doing well to finish third despite a troubled passage, Luxembourg returned to claim the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes and Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes in 2022.
Perfect Power
- 2,000 Guineas Finishing Position – 7th
- Trainer – Richard Fahey
- Sire – Ardad
Much like Little Big Bear, a mile proved a trip too far for the speedy Perfect Power. Back down to six furlongs for his next start, he promptly stormed home to claim Group 1 glory in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
Point Lonsdale
- 2,000 Guineas Finishing Position – 10th
- Trainer – Aidan O’Brien
- Sire – Australia
The polar opposite of Perfect Power, Point Lonsdale found things all happening too quickly in the Guineas. Stepped up in trip, he won the Group 3 Alleged Stakes and Group 2 Huxley Stakes on his next two starts.
The Wizard Of Eye
- 2,000 Guineas Finishing Position – 11th
- Trainer – Charlie Fellowes
- Sire – Galileo Gold
Unlike his sire, The Wizard Of Eye never looked like threatening at Newmarket. However, those who kept the faith were rewarded with a 20/1 payout when the horse landed a Listed Contest at Kempton on his final start of 2022.
Tacarib Bay
- 2,000 Guineas Finishing Position – 12th
- Trainer – Richard Hannon
- Sire – Night Of Thunder
Not up to Group level on the day, that remained the case for Tacarib Bay throughout 2022, but he did manage to bag a competitive handicap at Haydock later in the season.
Boundless Ocean
- 2,000 Guineas Finishing Position – 13th
- Trainer – Jim Bolger
- Sire – Teofilo
A starting price of 80/1 suggested not much was expected of Boundless Ocean in the Guineas, and he duly delivered not very much in beating only two home. However, Jim Bolger’s assessment that this was a Group class colt was vindicated with Group 3 wins in the Meld Stakes and Desmond Stakes.
Checkandchallenge
- 2,000 Guineas Finishing Position – 14th
- Trainer – William Knight
- Sire – Fast Company
33/1 and one place behind Boundless Ocean, Checkandchallenge also appeared some way short of the required standard. However, in common with his Jim Bolger-trained rival, he proved up to scoring in Group 3 company when staying on well to claim the Prix Daphnis at Deauville.
Dubawi Legend
- 2,000 Guineas Finishing Position – 15th
- Trainer – Hugo Palmer
- Sire – Dubawi
The subsequent winners keep on coming as we move through the 2022 edition. Dubawi Legend may have been dead last on the day (beaten by fully 31 lengths) but even he ended the campaign with a Group class success to his name – travelling to Germany to claim the Golden Peitsche over six furlongs.