Australia heads Guineas 14 Australia features in a final field of 14 for the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. A son of Galileo out of the great racemare Ouija Board, Aidan O'Brien's highly-regarded colt will be having his first start of the year on Saturday, having won two of his three juvenile outings, culminating in a comfortable Group Three win at Leopardstown last September. He will be ridden by Joseph O'Brien, while stable companion War Command, who won both the Coventry and Dewhurst Stakes last term, will be partnered by Ryan Moore. The John Gosden-trained Kingman is a strong favourite for the first Classic of the season after running out an impressive winner of last month's Greenham Stakes at Newbury on his seasonal return. Toormore was champion juvenile last season, counting the National Stakes at the Curragh among his four victories. He maintained his unbeaten record with a workmanlike display in the Craven Stakes on his return in April. He is one of three Richard Hannon-trained runners in his first season as the licence holder. Greenham runner-up Night Of Thunder, the mount of Kieren Fallon, and the unbeaten Shifting Power, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, give him three legitimate challengers. Another strong contender is Roger Varian's Kingston Hill, last year's Racing Post Trophy hero. The Spanish-trained Noozhoh Canarias, who finished second in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day, heads an intriguing international challenge. Freddie Head's Charm Spirit claimed third place in the Lagardere and he reopposes after making a triumphant return when winning the Prix Djebel at the beginning of April. Makfi won that race in 2010 before going on to Guineas glory and his trainer Mikel Delzangles sends over Bookrunner, who was just behind Charm Spirit in the Djebel. Breeders' Cup winner Outstrip, William Haggas' Ertijaal, Craven runner-up The Grey Gatsby and likely outsider Master The World are also in the mix.
