No Fahey tale in France: Draw does for Wootton Bassett in French 2,000 Guineas


He may have been burning up the gallops for trainer Richard Fahey but Wootton Bassett was yet another good horse undone by a wide draw as he faded into fifth behind Tin Horse in the French 2,000 Guineas.

In the last decade, only two horses have defied a double-figure stalls in either the 1,000 or 2,000 here and one of them, Special Duty in the 1,000 last year, needed help from the stewards.

Lope De Vega did it in the 2,000 Guineas 12 months ago but his rider, Maxime Guyon, took a gamble to drop in and come through the field. That was never an option for the free-running Wootton Bassett, drawn one from the outside in the 15-runner field.

Tough ask: Wootton Bassett lost his unbeaten run at Longchamp

Tough ask: Wootton Bassett lost his unbeaten run at Longchamp

He broke smartly under Paul Hanagan to capture an early lead but burned vital energy that left him a sitting duck in the final two furlongs as Tin Horse motored past for a two-length victory.

Hanagan said: ‘It’s just very difficult from that draw to get a position. You half have to use yourself up. I couldn’t get a breather into him.

A deflated Fahey added: ‘We were keen not to drop him in and Paul felt just before he went into the traps he was ready to explode. He has taken off and probably done too much but he was very fit and we were comfortable with him. On the day, it didn’t work.’

The obvious next race for Wootton Bassett would be the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot where he’ll have to tackle imposing English Guineas winner Frankel.

But Fahey admitted sticking to a mile is not guaranteed after Wootton Bassett lost his unbeaten record.

Gutted: Richard Fahey was disappointed with Wootton Bassett's draw

Gutted: Richard Fahey was disappointed with Wootton Bassett's draw

The trainer added: ‘He is not guaranteed to stay but that is another issue we’ll have to think about.’

The St James’s Palace could be on the agenda for Tin Horse, who strode clear of Havane Smoker under Thierry Jarnet. His is the biggest win in the career of trainer Didier Guillemin, who is based in south west France.

Tin Horse, favourably drawn in stall one next to the inside rail, had been beaten over two lengths by Wootton Bassett in last season’s Prix Jean Luc Legardere.

The high draw also did for John Gosden’s English 1,000 Guineas third Maqaasid, who stayed on without threatening in the French 1,000 Guineas impressively won by Andre Fabre’s Golden Lilac (Olivier Peslier).

She was three lengths clear of Glorious Sight with Aidan O’Brien’s Wild Wind (Ryan Moore) third. Ed Dunlop’s Sharnberry (Kieren Fallon) was best of the Brits in fifth.

The French Oaks next month beckons next for the winner, who on this evidence is the best three-year-old filly in Europe.

Meanwhile, Godolphin’s Genius Beast looks to be heading for Royal Ascot’s King Edward VII Stakes after a lack of top-class acceleration was exposed in his third behind Prairie Star in the Group Two Prix Hocquart.

Racing manager Simon Crisford said: ‘Genius Beast obviously stays and we are thinking of Ascot. Casamento looks like he might be a French Derby colt while Ocean War also gets a trip and is possible for the Derby. They will all be entered for Epsom, though, and Sheik Mohammed will make a decision in the last week.’


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