English 2000 Guineas: Gleneagles tries to put O'Brien in record books

Gleneagles, the winner of three group stakes in Ireland last summer, can give trainer Aidan O’Brien a record-equaling seventh career win in Saturday’s Group 1 English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse.

Glenagles, by Galileo, has not raced since he finished first in the Prix Jean Luc Lagardere at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris last October, but was disqualified and placed third for causing interference in the stretch of the seven-furlong race.

Despite the absence, Gleneagles was the 5-2 favorite on Thursday in a field of 19 for the 2000 Guineas, which is run on a straightaway mile turf course and has a purse of approximately $752,000. Gleneagles is owned by Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith.

A win would give O’Brien as many career wins in the English 2000 Guineas as John Scott, who won seven runnings from 1842 to 1862.

Ryan Moore is booked to ride Gleneagles, while O’Brien’s son, Joseph, will ride the stable’s other runner – Ol’ Man River. Joseph O’Brien has struggled with weight in recent weeks, but is expected to make the 126-pound assignment for the Guineas.

Ol’ Man River, who has the same ownership as Glenagles, is unbeaten in two starts, including the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at The Curragh in Ireland last September, his most recent start.

Trainer Richard Hannon has two contenders in Estidhkaar and Ivawood, who each won two Group 2 races last summer.

Estidhkaar, by Dark Angel, and Ivawood, by Zebedee, were second and third in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury Racecourse on April 18 to Muhaarar, who is not part of the 2000 Guineas field.

There are two entries from France – Territories, trained by Andre Fabre, and Ride Like the Wind, trained by Freddy Head.

Territories won the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau at Longchamp on April 12, 10 days after Ride Like the Wind won the Group 3 Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte.