2000 Guineas may go the Colts Trial way by DIABLO Hyderabad December  14, 2003

This year’s edition of the Golconda 2000 Guineas has been reduced to a fight among males, what with not a single filly accepting to throw her challenge for the Grade II race. This is certain to leave the Vijay Textiles sponsored event poorer for quality, as colts and geldings haven’t been up to fillies’ standards this year. In order to know how good this year’s fillies are, a simple comparison of the runners of this summer’s Fillies and Colts Trials in Bangalore should suffice.  While Fond Fantasy and her followers have done extremely well after that, those who followed Grovesnor Square have shown very little progress.

With not a single filly from that race or any other horse who fared well against them coming here, the 2000 Guineas has been rendered short on quality. Similar was the fate of the Deccan Bookmakers Colts Trial during monsoon and it threw up an upset winner in Red Orchid. It should not be a surprise if the 2000 Guineas too throws up a similar result. For, among the horses coming from Bangalore are Alphonso, Fantastic Prince, Master Craft and One Aim. None of them have done anything great to inspire confident backing. At best, Fantastic Prince raises some expectations, having run in the Colts Trial won by Grovesnor Square.  In this background, local horses Coral Gables and Red Orchid come strongly into the picture. Onnu Onnu Onnu is also a good type but he may not stay the Derby distance, while Golden Blaze and Ne Tlus Ultra simply don’t belong to this class.  Despite Red Orchid’s victory in the DBA Colts Trial, one always felt that Coral Gables is a shade better and has a better finish. But after seeing the devastating run Red Orchid had produced while winning his last race, that too carrying 60 kg, one had to alter his impressions on the colt. In the final analysis, if Fantastic Prince should turn out to be a weak favourite, the fight will be between Red Orchid and Coral Gables. And my money is on Red Orchid. Hyderabad Winter Season 2003-04 - Review Archives