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Irish 2,000 Guineas
The Irish 2,000 Guineas is first leg of the Irish Triple Crown series, completed by the Irish Derby and the Irish St. Leger Stakes. The series is modelled on the original Triple Crown hosted in England and has become just as popular as the English counterpart.
The race is hosted annually in May at Curragh Racecourse and is open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three. It runs over the distance of one mile and awards a purse of €400,000. The Irish 2,000 Guineas were introduced in 1921, one year before the inauguration of the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the equivalent race open only to three-year-old fillies.
Today the Irish 2,000 Guineas is an internationally acclaimed event, followed all over the world and including thoroughbreds from the finest international stables. Contenders who have done well in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the English equivalent of the Irish race, often go on to compete in the event at the Curragh; in the race's history seven 2,000 Guineas Stakes runners have recorded victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
By the same token, runners who do well in the Irish 2,000 Guineas are likely to go on to compete in the St. James's Palace Stakes at the Royal Ascot Festival in June. This shows that the Irish 2,000 Guineas have truly become an important event in any Group 1 race horse's three-year-old season; in fact a win at this race is now considered just as prestigious as a victory in an English equivalent.
Irish horse training icon Aidan O'Brien is currently holding the title of most successful trainer at the Irish 2,000 Guineas Stakes after training six winners of the event, most recently the fantastic runner Canford Cliffs, who incidentally went on to win the St. James's Palace Stakes at the 2010 Royal Ascot Festival.
Recent Winners of the Irish 2,000 Guineas:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
2010 |
Canford Cliffs |
Richard Hughes |
Richard Hannon |
1:37.64 |
2009 |
Master- |
Johnny Murtagh |
Aidan O'Brien |
1:48.16 |
2008 |
Henrythe- |
Johnny Murtagh |
Aidan O'Brien |
1:39.63 |
2007 |
Cockney Rebel |
Olivier Peslier |
Geoff Huffer |
1:36.10 |
2006 |
Araafa |
Alan Munro |
Jeremy Noseda |
1:49.80 |
2005 |
Dubawi |
Frankie Dettori |
Saeed Bin Suroor |
1:41.60 |
Irish 2,000 Guineas Odds and News
20 May 2010: Irish 2,000 Guineas – O’Brien’s Stable Picnic
Aidan O’Brien has got not one but nine good reasons to look forward to the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday 22nd May.
The prodigious trainer, or so it seems, has entered every eligible three-year-old his stable has to offer into the first of the Irish Classics. Air Chief Marshall, Encompassing, Fencing Master, Dynasty, Viscount Nelson, Jan Vermeer, Steinbeck, Purple Heart and Fighting Brave are all ready to go and fight for their trainer’s good name.
The four O’Brien students to really watch this Saturday are Fencing Master, Jan Vermeer, Viscount Nelson and Steinbeck – all of whom are possible runners in the upcoming Investec Epsom Derby on 5th June. Special hopes are being placed in three-year-old bay colt Steinbeck, who performed great in last year’s Pat Dunlea Memorial Race and the Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes.
One of the few contenders not connected to O’Brien’s factory of champions is Canford Cliffs, trained by Richard Hannon. Although Canford Cliffs has not recorded any wins as yet this season, he ran to second place in the Bathwick Tyres Greenham Stakes on 17th April, and made a respectable third place in this year’s 2,000 Guines Stakes in Newmarket. Now the bay colt is ready to take on the Irish Classics competition, potentially with regular jockey Richard Hughes although no jockeys have been confirmed for the race as yet.
The following odds are provided by William Hill and are valid as of Thursday 20th May. Please check the odds closer to the race date, as they can be subject to change.
| Horse | Age | Trainer | Odds |
| Steinbeck | 3 | A P O’Brien | 5-2 |
| Canford Cliffs | 3 | R Hannon | 11-4 |
| Fencing Master | 3 | A P O’Brien | 5-1 |
| Xtension | 3 | C G Cox | 5-1 |
| Keredari | 3 | J M Oxx | 8-1 |
| Noll Wallop | 3 | T Stack | 8-1 |
| Jan Vermeer | 3 | A P O’Brien | 12-1 |
| Viscount Nelson | 3 | A P O’Brien | 25-1 |
| Free Judgement | 3 | J S Bolger | 20-1 |
| Shintoh | 3 | J S Bolger | 16-1 |
| Dynasty | 3 | A P O’Brien | 20-1 |
| Oasis Dancer | 3 | R M Beckett | 20-1 |
| Air Chief Marshal | 3 | A P O’Brien | 33-1 |
| Fighting Brave | 3 | A P O’Brien | 33-1 |
| Zaahy | 3 | P W Chapple-Hyam | 50-1 |
| Encompassing | 3 | A P O’Brien | 66-1 |
| Carraiglawn | 3 | J S Bolger | 50-1 |
| Sebastian Flyte | 3 | F Ennis | 66-1 |
| Morana | 3 | P W Chapple-Hyam | 50-1 |
| Purple Heart | 3 | A P O’Brien | 100-1 |
