STORMY GRABS LIGHTNING WIN
STORMY ANTARCTIC is 20-1 to give trainer Ed Walker his first Classic in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas after sweeping aside favourite Foundation in the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes.
As thunder and lightning hit Newmarket, the 9-2 shot grabbed the lead a furlong out before pulling three-and-a-half lengths clear as the Guineas aspirations of John Gosden’s runner-up were extinguished.
Walker admitted he had been concerned after Stormy Antarctic failed to settle early in the mile race but the emphatic victory means he will be back for the first Classic of the season on April 30.
Walker, who has been training since 2010, said: ‘I’ve never had to prepare a Guineas horse and you only dream of horses like this. These are the reasons you get up at 4.30am, for horses like him.
‘I never felt we came here for minor honours and he is by far and away the best three-year-old I’ve got.’
Stormy Antarctic went close to winning a Group One prize when a head second to Aidan O’Brien’s Johannes Vermeer in the Criterium International in November.
That race, like yesterday’s, was run on rain-softened ground but Walker dismissed the idea that his colt would not be effective on a quicker surface. Meanwhile, Frankie Dettori-ridden Foundation only confirmed the thoughts of his trainer that he needs further than a mile.
The 10-furlong Dante Stakes at York next month looks his next target when rivals should include Godolphin-owned stablemate Linguistic, an authoritative winner of the Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy under William Buick.
Dettori was successful on Charlie Hills-trained Magical Memory, who picked up where he left off last season by winning the Abernant Stakes by a neck from Tupi.
Meanwhile, as revealed in Monday’s Racemail, Irish trainer Mouse Morris relies on Folsom Blue in tomorrow’s Scottish National at Ayr to give him an unprecedented three Nationals in three weeks following the successes of Rogue Angel in the Irish National and Rule The World in the Grand National.
Irish National fourth Folsom Blue will again be ridden by conditional jockey Andrew Ring.
Sponsors Coral make Folsom Blue a 16-1 shot for the £210,000 marathon. Favourite at 9-1 is Willie Mullins-trained Cheltenham Festival winner Measure of my dreams, with Bryan Cooper on board.