Godolphin again as Ruling Court has final say in 2,000 Guineas
The royal blue silks of Godolphin were carried to a third victory in the English 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) in the last four editions as Charlie Appleby’s rapidly improving colt Ruling Court (Justify) proved too tough for his ten rivals in Saturday’s Newmarket Classic.
Making just his fourth career start and first since easily landing a Listed contest at Meydan in March, the son of Coolmore’s former shuttle stallion Justify (Scat Daddy) was the pick of Godolphin’s leading rider William Buick – despite the fact his stable and fellow Godolphin-owned Shadow Of Light (Lope De Vega) had been the champion two-year-old last season.
That decision would prove a shrewd one, as Buick claimed his second successive 2,000 Guineas onboard the colt.
Jumping from stall 11, Ruling Court travelled sweetly throughout the opening half of the mile Classic and, once asked to improve his position entering the final two furlongs, came home strongly under his riders urgings to see off the challenging Shadow Of Light (third) and deny the John and Thady Gosden-trained Field Of Gold (Kingman) by a half-length.
Shadow Of Light, who was ridden by Mickael Barzalona, put up a big effort to be a real threat inside the final furlong before weakening slightly in the closing stages of the race to finish a length off his winning stablemate.
“I could spend all day thanking everybody, they know what they’ve done,” said Appleby, who was celebrating his third win in the contest after scoring with Coroebus (Dubawi) in 2022, while he saddled Notable Speech (Dubawi) to victory 12 months ago.
“Each year it gets harder. It looked a great race coming into it, Field Of Gold looked great and was the horse we all had to beat after the Craven [Stakes].
“It was a tough call for William [Buick] to have to come off the champion two-year-old but we collectively put our heads together to make the right decision. Mickael [Barzalona] was great on Shadow Of Light.”
Ruling Court was cut to a best-priced 5-1 for the Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) behind 7-2 favourite The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars).
When asked about the prospect of running Ruling Court in next month’s Derby, the winning trainer replied: “We’ll let the dust settle and enjoy the moment. Then we can map out the rest of the season. It’s special to win this, you enjoy these days.”
Winning rider Buick was landing the sixth domestic Classic of his career and said: “I feel amazing, this is very special. These races are what it’s all about and the horses are amazing to deal with. I love my job and results like these are very special.
“He put up a great performance in Dubai and gave me something to think about for the Guineas when we had a Dewhurst winner in the stable as well. I’ve been thinking a lot the last few months. They’re two exceptional horses.
“I love how Ruling Court did it, he’s such an uncomplicated horse. We treated him like it, not looking for cover and letting him do his thing. It didn’t feel like a quick gallop and he lengthened right to the line. He’ll get further and he’s got a huge engine.”
Bred by Nursery Place, Manfuso and Wilhite, Ruling Court was first purchased by Norman Williamson for US$150,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale before being re-sold to Godolphin for an auction record price of €2.3 million at the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale the following year.
He is the third foal out of the Graded-placed High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) mare Inchargeofme, herself a sister to Group-placed winner Johann Strauss.
Ruling Court’s victory handed his sire Justify an eighth individual winner at the top level and that cohort includes City Of Troy, who flopped in the Guineas last season, before bouncing back to win the Derby. City Of Troy will cover his first book of mares at Coolmore Jerrys Plains base later this year.
Justify stands at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud base in Kentucky for a fee of US$250,000 (approx. AU$387,280).