1963 Clastic Horses (3) Candidates For The 2000 Guineas

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30042, 29 January 1963, Page 4

1963 Clastic Horses (3) Candidates For The 2000 Guineas

[By

NIGEL GEE]

LONDON.

The results of the 2000 Guineas in the last two years have been eccentric. Excluding the two French winners, previous winners since World War II have come from the top 131 b of the Free Handicap, 9st 71b down to Bst 91b, and, more than not, from die 9st«plus group.

This is logical enough when one consider? the ctooe affinity between two-year-old form and the demands of this classic. In 1961, however, the winner. Rockavoa. was not even given a place in the Free Handicap, and the 1962 winner. Privy Councillor, received only 7st KHb. We can, quite reasonably, expect the 1963 winner to revert to type.

Crocket and Happy Omen are the only 2000 Guineas candidates with more than 9st, but, lower in the Free Handicap, there are half a dozen English colts who deserve at least the courtesy of consideration.

Magic Carpet (8-13), an impressive-looking colt, won his first two races in great style, but he had a set-back in training before Royal Ascot and did not race again until the July meeting at Ascot.

He ran so badly then that it is pointless to consider the form and the fact that he finished feeling very sore indicates that he had not recovered from his earlier trouble. He did not run again. Apart from the doubt whether he will recover his form, there remains the further question whether he will stay a male. He is a half-brother of three very fast horses, notably the top class sprinter, Sound Track He is by The Phoenix, which gives him some chance of being more than a sprinter, though on the balance of probabilities this is likely to be his future role.

Romtntic (8-12) is subject to the same reservation. He is bred for speed, a quality evident in his two year-old form. He was beaten in his only race at seven furlongs end was no ma tch for Crocket in the Middle Park. King’s Favourite (8-9)

looked impressive when he won at Ascot in June, but the form of his few rivals that day was obscure. As a result he was probably overrated, and at the July meeting be was hammered by the filly Top of the Milk. He bed one more race, the seven furiongg’ Dewhurst Stakes in the autumn, and was beaten again. King’s Favourite is by King of the Tudors and his dam. None Nicer, was second in the St Leger. There is tattle doubt he will stay a mile and it ia quite possible that he will stay the distance of the Derby. At this stage, however, he is visibly inferior to his stablemate. Happy Omen.

King of Babyton (8-9>. which, like Crocket and King’s Favourite. » by King of the Tudors, will stay a mile and could stay a mile and a half He was beaten by Crocket and Young David in the six *tM'tongs' Gkncrack Stakes in August, but later reversed that form with Young David in winning the seven furlongs’ Champagne Stakes.

He was probably feeling the effects of a fairly busy season when he was unplaced finally behind Noblesse in the Timefarm Gold Cup. Even when one allows for this, he has some way to go to close the gap with Crocket.

Tudor Grey (8-9) is by the outstanding poet-war Wirmer of the 2000 Guineas, Tudor Minstrel, and his dam was an unusually fast sprinter Speed dominates his pedigree, and I doubt if he has the stamina or even the ability to win the 2000 Guineas. Fidelio (8-9), by Princely Gift out of a Fair Trial mare, won two races last season, at seven and eight furtongs Even so, he will probably not stay rnuch more than a mile, which was anticipated

when he was not entered for the Derby. The 2000 Guineas is Fldelio’s only classic and he has an outside chance, for in his second race he wag about two lengths behind Happy Omen. He was unbeaten subsequently. Happy Omen was rated second colt behind Crocket in the Free Handlcap. (Central Press Features AU rights reserved).