COUNTDOWN TO THE GUINEAS FESTIVAL AT NEWMARKET

BALDING PAIR ON COURSE FOR StanJames.com GUINEAS FESTIVAL AT NEWMARKET



- 27 REMAIN IN StanJames.com 2000 GUINEAS



- 30 GO FORWARD FOR StanJames.com 1000 GUINEAS



Trainer Andrew Balding is weighing up a possible double Classic raid at Newmarket next weekend with recent Listed scorer Lord Zenith aiming for glory in the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas on Saturday, 1st May, and progressive filly Pipette being considered for the StanJames.com 1000 Guineas the following day.



Both horses have made impressive starts to their three-year-old campaigns with Lord Zenith relishing the step up to a mile to land a Listed contest on Polytrack at Lingfield Park on 10th April.



The son of Zamindar, one of 27 colts remaining in the £400,000 contest, posted a six-length maiden victory at Salisbury in June and was denied a clear run when coming home fifth in the Group Two Meydan Superlative Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival.



Pipette, who is among 30 fillies going forward for the StanJames.com 1000 Guineas, also made a winning seasonal return on Polytrack, readily scoring in a mile conditions stakes at Kempton Park on 3rd April. In two juvenile appearances, the George Strawbridge home-bred made a winning debut at Salisbury in September before staying on strongly to take third in a Newbury Listed contest at the end of October.



Balding revealed: “Lord Zenith is a more than likely runner in the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas. He has come out of his Lingfield run well and we are very happy with him at the moment. He did well there considering that the track wouldn’t have been to his liking.



“We have always thought that he was a lovely horse and he ideally wants fast ground - hopefully he can run well at Newmarket.



“We have left Pipette in the StanJames 1000 Guineas but a lot will depend on the weather - she won’t take her chance if the ground is too fast. She also has the possibility of running in the Haveago@StanJames.com Pretty Polly Stakes and we will make a call nearer the time.



“She is a bit of a mixed bag regarding her breeding - being by Pivotal and out of a Sadler’s Wells mare - and she has always given the impression that she will get further than a mile in time.



“I was very pleased with her win at Kempton and there is no question that she is a nice filly.”



St Nicholas Abbey, a 13/8 chance with Stan James, currently heads the betting for the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas and the Aidan O’Brien colt, who stormed to victory in the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October, is one of four remaining entries from Ballydoyle along with Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes runner-up Fencing Master, Fighting Brave and Viscount Nelson.



Also among the 27 acceptors is Elusive Pimpernel, who stormed to an impressive four-length victory in the Group Three Racing Post breezeupbonus.com Craven Stakes at Newmarket on 15th April.



Marcus Hosgood, racing secretary to trainer John Dunlop, reported: “Elusive Pimpernel has come out of his Newmarket run in good order and we have been pleased by his progress since.”



Also going forward in the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas are the Richard Hannon-trained pair of Dick Turpin and Canford Cliffs, first and second respectively in the Group Three Greenham Stakes at Newbury on 17th April.



Special Duty, trained by Criquette Head-Maarek and successful in last season’s Group One Electrolux Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, is the current 7/2 favourite with Stan James for the StanJames.com 1000 Guineas and heads the 27 fillies going forward. Also among the 27 still engaged is fellow French raider Joanna, who had Special Duty back in third place when taking the Group Three Prix Imprudence at Maisons-Laffitte on 8th April.



Music Show has twice won on the Rowley Mile, having taken the Group Two Lotus Evora Rockfel Stakes on Champions’ Day in 2009 and then proving her well-being with a winning seasonal reappearance in the Group Three Leslie Harrison Memorial Nell Gwyn Stakes on 14th April.



The next confirmation stage for both the StanJames.com 2000 and the StanJames.com 1000 Guineas is on Monday, 26th April, when there is also a £30,000 supplementary entry stage.



Latest Stan James prices (non-runner = no bet)



StanJames.com 2000 Guineas

St Nicholas Abbey 13/8

Elusive Pimpernel 5

Awzaan 7

Canford Cliffs 12

Inler 14

Xtension 16

Fencing Master 16/1

Dick Turpin 16

Al Zir 20

25s Bar



StanJames.com 1000 Guineas

Special Duty 7/2

Music Show 6

Rumoush 8

Seta 9

Tabassum 10

Pollenator 14

16s Bar





THE StanJames.com 2000 GUINEAS

Class 1, Group 1 Race, Total Prize fund £400,000. Newmarket, Saturday, May 1, 2010, one mile. For three-year-olds only, entire colts and fillies. Weights: colts 9st, fillies 8st 11lb. Entries closed March 2, entries released March 4 (91 entries), Scratchings deadline noon, April 20 (27 remain). Five-day confirmation and £30,000 supplementary stage noon, April 26. Final declaration stage 10.00am, April 29. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up and including the racing of Monday, April 19, 2010. May not include some overseas form.



Form Horse Owner Trainer

113- AL ZIR (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

111-3 ARCANO (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum Brian Meehan

5-(1) ARRY'S ORSE Harry Redknapp Bryan Smart

201143-4 AUDACITY OF HOPE The Hon Earle I Mack/Four Winds Racing Charlie McBride

1111- AWZAAN Hamdan Al Maktoum Mark Johnston

221355- BUZZWORD Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni

113-2 CANFORD CLIFFS (IRE) Heffer Syndicate, Susan Roy & Mrs Instance Richard Hannon

111156-1 DICK TURPIN (IRE) John Manley Richard Hannon

621360-4 DUBAWI PHANTOM Sultan Ali David Simcock

(1)- ELSPETH'S BOY (USA) David Gorton John Best

112-1 ELUSIVE PIMPERNEL (USA) Windflower Overseas Holdings Inc John Dunlop

2-1 FAIR TRADE Raymond Tooth David Elsworth

(1)2- FENCING MASTER Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

(1)(5)-4 FIGHTING BRAVE (USA) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

20(1)(4)01-6 FREE JUDGEMENT (USA) June Judd/Jackie Bolger/Ennistown Stud Jim Bolger IRE

4-(2)(1)(1)(1)(2) GREYFRIARSCHORISTA Greyfriars UK Ltd Mark Johnston

252111- HEARTS OF FIRE Pat Eddery Racing (Detroit) Pat Eddery

1- INLER (IRE) Maggie Findlay John Best

10(2)634-6 IVER BRIDGE LAD The Iver Lads John Ryan

615-(1) LORD ZENITH Mrs M E Wates Andrew Balding

1-1 MAKFI M Offenstadt Mikel Delzangles FR

0(1)-1 MEEZAAN (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum John Gosden

31314- POET'S VOICE Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

1103-1 RED JAZZ (USA) Ronnie Arculli Barry Hills

111- ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

31120-2 VISCOUNT NELSON (USA) Sue Magnier/Diane Nagle Aidan O'Brien IRE

1213- XTENSION (IRE) Brighthelm Racing Clive Cox



27 entries remain after April 20 scratchings deadline

5 Irish-trained

1 French-trained



THE FOLLOWING HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: ALFRED NOBEL (IRE), ATLANTIS STAR, AWESOME ACT (USA), BEAUCHAMP YORKER, BEETHOVEN (IRE), BLACK SNOWFLAKE (USA), BUSINESS BAY (USA), CAPE BLANCO (IRE), CARNABY STREET (IRE), CHABAL (IRE), COMMISSIONAIRE, CRITICAL MOMENT (USA), DANCING DAVID (IRE), DESTINATION AIM, DYNASTY, EDINBURGH KNIGHT (IRE), EIGHTFOLD PATH (USA), EMERALD COMMANDER (IRE), ENCOMPASSING (IRE), ESAAR (USA), FREMONT (IRE), FROZEN POWER (IRE), HARVEST DANCER (IRE), JAN VERMEER (IRE), JOSHUA TREE (IRE), KAPTAIN KIRKUP (IRE), KINGSFORT (USA), LATANSAA, LUCKY GENERAL (IRE), MARKAZZI, MATA KERANJANG (USA), MENDIP (USA), MIDFIELDER (USA), MON CADEAUX, MONT AGEL, MORANA (IRE), MR DAVID (USA), MUFARRH (IRE), MUSAAFER (IRE), NAASEF, NO HUBRIS (USA), OASIS DANCER, PASSION FOR GOLD (USA), POUNCED (USA), PUNCHER CLYNCH (IRE), PURPLE HEART (IRE), PURPLE LAND (USA), QUADRILLE, RASHAAD (USA), RASMY, REITERATION (USA), RUM KING (USA), STARGAZE (IRE), STEINBECK (IRE), STRONG VIGILANCE (IRE), STUNNING VIEW (IRE), TAMAATHUL, TREBLE JIG (USA), VALE OF YORK (IRE), WILLIAM VAN GOGH, WORKFORCE, YOUM JAMIL (USA), ZAAHY (USA), ZEITOPER



THE StanJames.com 1000 GUINEAS

Class 1, Group 1 Race, Total Prize fund £400,000. Newmarket, Sunday, May 2, 2010, one mile. For three-year-old fillies only. Entries closed March 2, entries revealed March 4 (71 entries).Scratchings deadline noon, April 20 (30 remain). Six-day confirmation and £30,000 supplementary stage noon, April 26. Final declaration stage 10.00am, April 30. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up and including the racing of Monday, April 19, 2010. May not include some overseas form.



Form Horse Owner Trainer

105122-0 ATASARI (IRE) Jackie Bolger Jim Bolger IRE

2125-2 BLUE MAIDEN Peter Charter Charlie McBride

3312-2 DEVOTED TO YOU (IRE) Diane Nagle & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

3110- DISTINCTIVE Gary & Lesley Middlebrook Bryan Smart

0(4)-5 DUBAI MEDIA (CAN) Ahmad Al Shaikh David Simcock

1- EMULOUS Khalid Abdulla Dermot Weld IRE

241524-0 FAMOUS (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

15-2 GILE NA GREINE (IRE) Jackie Bolger & Harry Dobson Jim Bolger IRE

123466- GOLD BUBBLES (USA) June Judd, Jackie Bolger, Ennistown Stud Jim Bolger IRE

(2)254- GREEN DANDY (IRE) Frank Cosgrove Eoghan O'Neill

31120-2 HABAAYIB Hamdan Al Maktoum Ed Dunlop

3221- HIBAAYEB Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

210-0 JACQUELINE QUEST (IRE) N Martin Henry Cecil

140435-(4)6 JIRA Saeed Manana Clive Brittain

12113-1 JOANNA (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum Jean Claude Rouget FR

3132- LADY DARSHAAN (IRE) Coleman Bloodstock Limited Stan Moore

16113-3 LADY OF THE DESERT (USA) Jaber Abdullah Brian Meehan

112102-4 MISHEER Saeed Manana Clive Brittain

1101-1 MUSIC SHOW (IRE) Jaber Abdullah Mick Channon

(5)(2)32- NURTURE (IRE) Richard Pegum Ralph Beckett

13-(1) PIPETTE George Strawbridge Andrew Balding

62211- POLLENATOR (IRE) The Royal Ascot Racing Club Richard Hannon

(1)4242-1 PUFF (IRE) Mr and Mrs David Aykroyd Ralph Beckett

0(2)(1)64(0)-0(3) QUEEN OF TROY (IRE) Sue Magnier/Paul Fleming Aidan O'Brien IRE

(1)-1 RUMOUSH (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum Marcus Tregoning

(1)314- SENT FROM HEAVEN (IRE) Triermore Stud Barry Hills

13- SETA Sarah J Leigh Luca Cumani

2121-3 SPECIAL DUTY Khalid Abdulla Criquette Head-Maarek FR

113- TABASSUM (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum Sir Michael Stoute

413-0 YOU'LL BE MINE (USA) Roisin Henry & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE



30 entries

8 Irish-trained

2 French-trained



THE FOLLOWING HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: AREEDA (IRE), ASTROPHYSICAL JET, AVIATE, AWE INSPIRING (IRE), AYUN TARA (FR), BEYOND DESIRE, CABARET (IRE), CHACHAMAIDEE (IRE), DECORATIVE (IRE), DYNA WALTZ, ELECTRIC FEEL, EOLITH, FIELD DAY (IRE), FULL OF HOPE (IRE), HAFAWA (IRE), LADY LUPUS (IRE), LILLIE LANGTRY (IRE), LONG LASHES (USA), MARIE DE MEDICI (USA), MISS MITTAGONG (USA), MUDAARAAH, MUJDEYA, MUWAKABA (USA), PINK SYMPHONY, PLUME, PRINCIPAL ROLE (USA), QUEEN'S GRACE, REMEMBER WHEN (IRE), REVERED, ROMANCEA (USA), SAFINA, SAGACIOUS (IRE), SAND VIXEN, SCORN (USA), SHAMS ALBAWADI (USA), SILVER ROCK (IRE), SIYAADAH, SONG OF MY HEART (IRE), TERMAGANT (IRE), TIMEPIECE, ZA ZA ZOOM (IRE)





For further information, please contact:



Michael Prosser, Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, 07802 844 578



Tony Rushmer, Racing PR Manager, 07702 579 382



Charlie McCann, Head of PR, Stan James, 07803 295 931



ENDS