Gstaad primed for second Classic bid in Irish 2,000 Guineas Gstaad looks to have a great chance of gaining Classic compensation in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday. Aidan O’Brien’s colt won at the Breeders’ Cup at the end of a busy juvenile season and went to Newmarket as Ballydoyle’s number one contender for the first Classic of the year. Gstaad was the only horse to seriously give Bow Echo anything to think about three weeks ago but with George Boughey deciding to keep his powder dry until Royal Ascot, Gstaad sets a very tall standard for the others to aim at. “You’d have to be pleased with how he ran at Newmarket, he ran a good race but the winner was good on the day,” said O’Brien. “Everything has gone well since, we’ve been pleased with him, we couldn’t be happier. “He’s won at the Curragh before so that’s no problem but I don’t know if you could say it should suit him any better than Newmarket as they are both lovely tracks.” Karl Burke’s Alparslan is back at the Curragh having dominated in a big sales race there in September. Since then he has beaten Zavateri and Albert Einstein, two of last year’s top juveniles in the Greenham at Newbury and he was a late defector from Newmarket when the ground dried up. “I think the key will be whether he stays. If he stays the mile well, then there’s no reason why he shouldn’t run a big race,” said Burke. “I’m sure he’ll be bang there at the furlong pole and then it’ll be a question of how his stamina kicks in. “He’s in good shape, we’re very happy with him. He’ll love the ground and he’s a course winner, so he’s a lot going for him. “I’m looking forward to seeing him run.” Billy Loughnane rode his first Classic winner on Bow Echo and this time has been snapped up by Charlie Appleby to ride Distant Storm with William Buick suspended. Distant Storm was eight lengths behind Gstaad at Newmarket in third. Stablemate Pacific Avenue also runs. “Distant Storm has come forward since the Guineas and we feel that the track and conditions at the Curragh might suit him better,” said Appleby on www.godolphin.com. “We have a bit of ground to make up on Gstaad based on the last time they met, although we were a lot closer in the Dewhurst. We have been happy with his preparation and Billy Loughnane has ridden him plenty at home, as well as talking to William. “Pacific Avenue is a solid performer in his own right. He wasn’t disgraced when making the running in the Dewhurst Stakes and will hopefully perform a similar role here.” Fozzy Stack’s Thesecretadversary raced keenly at Newmarket so in the circumstances did well to hold on for fifth. “We’ve been pleased with him since Newmarket, he seems in good order so hopefully he’ll run his race,” said Stack. “He was keen early on at Newmarket and that hampered his chances, he might have finished third without that. “Hopefully he relaxes and little bit better on Saturday so he can run his race. He’s definitely trained on which is always nice to see.” Joseph O’Brien runs Go Just Do It, a winner at Gowran on his most recent outing. He told Tattersalls: “He won his maiden very well and he is a horse that had good form at the Curragh last year, so we’re excited to go back there with him. Although it looks a competitive race we think he can be competitive and run a good race.”
