Teofilo Heads 38 Contenders In The Stan James 2000 Guineas

Teofilo, unbeaten in five races as a two-year-old and talked of as a possible Triple Crown contender this season by his trainer, heads 38 cracking entries who remain in the #350,000 Group One Stan James 2000 Guineas, run over the NatWest Rowley Mile at Newmarket on Saturday, May 5, after the forfeit stage, details of which are announced today.

The hugely exciting son of Galileo, who races in the colours of handler Jim Bolger´s wife Jackie, showed plenty of courage on his most recent outing in the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 14, battling back once headed to edge out Holy Roman Emperor by a head.

Back in seventh that day was the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Adagio, who kept on well from an uncompromising position to be beaten less than five lengths at the line.

He made an impressive return at Newmarket on April 19 when lifting the Group Three banshahousestables.com Craven Stakes, quickening up in grand style once presented with an opening up the rail to score readily by a length and a half from Sonny Red, with He´s A Decoy and Big Robert back in fourth and sixth.

Stan James make Teofilo the 5/2 favourite for the first British Classic of the year, with Adagio a 3/1 chance. The sponsors, who also back the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket´s Classic weekend, then go 11/2 about Major Cadeaux and offer 7/1 about the unbeaten US Ranger, trained by in France by Jean-Claude Rouget for Michael Tabor and Joseph Allen, who is not yet among the entries but has the chance to become involved at the supplementary entry stage on Monday, April 30, at a cost of #25,000.

Sonny Red´s trainer, Richard Hannon, looks to have another fine prospect on his hands in the shape of Major Cadeaux, who defied a 10-month absence to brush aside the previously unbeaten Dutch Art by three and a half lengths in the Group Three Greenham Stakes at Newbury on April 21, with Halicarnassus, Mastership and Tariq all in arrears.

Strategic Prince (8/1 with Stan James), trained by Paul Cole, showed high-class form as a juvenile, following a brace of Group Two victories in the TNT July Stakes at Newmarket and the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, when he got the better of Duke Of Marmalade, with a fine third behind Teofilo and Holy Roman Emperor in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes over the Rowley Mile course.

Only one place behind Strategic Prince in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes was Haatef, trained by Kevin Prendergast, who ran exceptionally well considering it was only his second career start, having previously landed a six-furlong Curragh maiden on his debut.

One of the most fascinating Stan James 2000 Guineas hopes is Diamond Tycoon (8/1 with Stan James), trained by Brian Meehan and running in the colours of the 250-strong Racegoers Club Owners Group, who advertised his potential with a facile success in a mile Newbury maiden on April 21, cruising home six lengths to the good over Lucarno, while Geoff Huffer has a talented performer to go to war with this term in Cockney Rebel, last seen finishing a close third behind Eoghan O´Neill´s Vital Equine in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at York on September 9.

Godolphin is still represented by the trio of Dijeerr, narrow winner of the Group Three Horris Hill Stakes for Michael Jarvis at Newbury in September, Mofarij, who barely came out of second gear to take a mile maiden at Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, on March 1, and Frankie Dettori´s likely mount Truly Royal, the promising runner-up in a conditions event at Nad Al Sheba on March 8.

Prime Defender, trained by Barry Hills, held of the late thrust of William Jarvis´ Tobosa to take the Listed Sporting Index European Free Handicap at Newmarket on April 18, while Al Shemali was fourth in the Listed Connaught Access Flooring Feilden Stakes the same afternoon for Sir Michael Stoute, who has also kept in the maiden Al Tharib alongside the strongly fancied Adagio.

Aidan O´Brien is responsible for four of the 10 Irish-trained entries, including Mount Nelson, winner of the Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on October 29 when he had stable companion Yellowstone back in third, and Eagle Mountain, who galloped to a seven-length romp in the Group Two Beresford Stakes at the Curragh last term and wound up with an excellent fourth to Authorized in the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Newbury.

Further interest is provided by South African-based handler Mike de Kock, who has Drayton, formerly trained in Ireland by Tommy Stack when he scored twice at Listed level over five furlongs and also finished runner-up to Holy Roman Emperor in the Group Two Railway Stakes at the Curragh.

The Stan James 2000 Guineas