Footsteps Marches To Guineas Glory

Footstepsinthesand reduced the pressure on one of racing´s new high-profile partnerships as the Aidan O´Brien-trained colt took the UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket yesterday.

Leading over a furlong out, the 13-2 chance, part-owned by Michael Tabor, bounded up the hill to take the first Classic of the season under Kieren Fallon.

Tabor, O´Brien and Fallon were all winning the race for the third time, but more signifcantly this was the first big-race success for the trio as a team, Fallon having joined O´Brien´s Ballydoyle operation as stable jockey only a little more than two months ago.

With hot favourite Dubawi throwing his chance away when hanging left across the course two furlongs out and fellow leading fancy Rob Roy all but pulled up in last place, the door was open for a surprise.

And it was two 100-1 shots, Rebel Rebel and Kandidate, who filled the placings, with O´Brien´s second string Oratorio staying on to finish fourth.

At the halfway stage, Clive Brittain´s trio of Party Boss, Kandidate and Tony James were in charge as all the 19-strong field opted to stay in one group up the centre of the course.

Having raced keenly in the early stages, Fallon made his challenge on the winner on the far side of the group, and the son of Giant´s Causeway never looked like relinquishing the lead once he hit the front.

He went on to win by a length and a quarter from Rebel Rebel, who stayed on from the rear division, with Kandidate battling on to finish another three-quarters of a length away in third.

Fallon, making a dream start to his new job, was surrounded by his family around the winner´s rostrum.

He said: 'I always thought he was a bit special from the first day I sat on him.

'I hoped I had made the right choice. This one loves to work and is a real athlete, whereas the other one (Oratorio) would rather eat and sleep, but until you get them on the track you can´t be sure.

'You don´t like to get too confident before a race like this, but I thought we were coming with a good chance.

'We got the run of the race really. The pace was down the middle and I just had to follow them.

'It was a very competitive Guineas this year and to be able to quicken away from them like that, he must be a good horse.

'I just hoped I hadn´t gone too soon - it was his first run of the season.'

Reflecting on his career change, Fallon went on: 'All of these victories are special, but when you get a new job and a new season it´ll make the year a bit easier. Long may it continue.

'It was a big decision to go to Ballydoyle. There have been a lot of changes to make but I´m enjoying racing, I´m happy and I´m looking forward to the season.

'It is always important to get a good start in a new job. I did that with Sleepytime in the 1000 Guineas when I was with Henry Cecil and now we have done it again.'

O´Brien added: 'It was a great performance - great for everybody. Everybody has put a lot of work into this horse and it´s a credit to them all.

'Kieren gave him a beautiful ride.

'We always thought he would be a fast-ground horse but he has been working in a bog at home and you never know until they come to the course.

'He´s a big, strong, powerful horse with unbelievable natural speed. He´s still a baby, but he´s an unbelievably talented horse.

'He only had two runs at the back-end last season but we all worked really hard to get him ready for today.'

Asked about future plans, O´Brien added: 'He´s in the Derby and all of those races. The lads will have to decide what happens next.'

Cashmans slashed his odds for the Vodafone Derby at Epsom to just 7-2, but twice that price is available with Ladbrokes, while other firms sit in between.

Vodafone Derby betting:

Coral: 5-1 Footstepsinthesand, 6-1 Motivator, 8-1 Dubawi, 10-1 Gypsy King, 14-1 Ehsan, 16-1 Kandidate, Oratorio, 20-1 Walk In The Park, Proclamation, 25-1 bar.

William Hill: 5-1 Footstepsinthesand, Motivator, 7-1 Gypsy King, 8-1 Dubawi, 14-1 Proclamation, 16-1 Ehsan, 20-1 Sharmardal, 25-1 Albert Hall, Echo Of Light, Fracas, Grand Central, 33-1 bar.

Totesport: 6-1 Footstepsinthesand, Motivator, 8-1 Dubawi, Gypsy King, 14-1 Proclamation, Ehsan, 20-1 Albert Hall, Grand Central, Shamardal, 25-1 Rob Roy, Kandidate, Fracas, Mordor, Oratorio, Oude, Tiger Dance, 28 Proclamation, 33-1 bar.

? PA Sport