Dettori strikes in final English 2,000 Guineas appearance with Chaldean
The Andrew Balding-trained Chaldean (Frankel) and rider Frankie Dettori put an unfortunate unseat in last month’s Greenham Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) behind them as they combined for a thrilling victory in yesterday’s 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) at Newmarket, on what was Dettori’s final appearance in the prestigious Classic.
Already a winner at the top level having landed last year’s Dewhurst Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) as a juvenile, where he beat old rival Royal Scotsman (Gleneagles) by a head, the Juddmonte Farms-owned colt once again displayed his abundance of talent here, 12 years after his champion sire Frankel stormed to victory in the race.
Sent off the 7-2 second favourite behind the Aidan O’Brien-trained Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact), Chaldean was always prominent among his 13 rivals and proved a resolute opponent in the rain-softened conditions, staying on best of all, and crucially on a true line, in the finish.
Runner-up was the 125-1 outsider Hi Royal (Kodiac) for the Kevin Ryan team. A winner of a novice from three starts, the son of Kodiac (Danehill) attempted to make just about all but wandered across the Rowley Mile track as Chaldean ramped up the pressure for the outright lead, eventually holding on from Royal Scotsman to claim second, beaten one and three-quarter lengths by the winner.
Yesterday’s success was somewhat of a fairytale for champion jockey Frankie Dettori, in what is his farewell season in the saddle, taking his 2,000 Guineas tally up to four.
“I had a really good spot,” said Dettori. “Then when I got to the top of the hill, Oisin (Murphy, jockey of Hi Royal) kicked on and gave me a good fight but once I got clear of him it was all over; I was able to enjoy it.
“I kept an eye on my left to see if the Coolmore horses were coming but there was plenty of daylight.
“It was such a surreal moment and I was thinking ‘I hope I don’t wake up’!”
Chaldean was completing a double on the card for trainer Andrew Balding who said: “I was a bit worried about the mile in this ground, but he’s just done a wonderful job, Frankie. We’re making the most of our unconventional prep race, we might set a trend there!
“It was a concern beforehand, but it did him some good because he got out there. I’m just thrilled, what a brilliant ride.
“What can’t you say about Frankie? Since I’ve been involved in the sport he’s been an omnipresent superstar of the sport and what a fitting way to ride his last 2,000 Guineas.
“He always looked to be travelling comfortably, I was just a bit worried about getting past Oisin because he can get extra lengths out of a horse but once we collared him, I was fairly confident.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long while, it’s a mixture of relief and elation. It will probably sink in a bit, it’s a big deal.”
Bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud, Chaldean was a 550,000gns purchase for Juddmonte at the 2020 Tattersalls December Foals Sale.
The sixth foal out of the winning Dutch Art (Medicean) mare Suelita, he is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Alkumait (Showcasing), stakes scorer The Broghie Man (Cityscape) and useful winners Get Ahead (Showcasing) and Gloves Lynch (Mukhadram).
Vertem Futurity Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) winner Auguste Rodin, who had been touted as a possible candidate to become the first Triple Crown winner since Nijinsky (Northern Dancer) in 1970, finished a bitterly disappointing 12th, beaten 22 lengths by the winner.