Ruling Court continued Godolphin’s outstanding recent record in the Gr1 2,000 Guineas as horses in the royal blue silks finished first, third and fourth in the Newmarket Classic on Saturday.
Coroebus (2022) and Notable Speech (2024) had captured the first Gr1 of the UK season in recent years, adding to the victories of Mark Of Esteem (1996), Island Sands (1999) and Dawn Approach (2013).
William Buick steers Ruling Court to victory (Pic – Godolphin)
An easy winner of the Listed Jumeirah 2,000 Guineas in March, Ruling Court was held up towards the rear of the 11 runners on the stands’ side, with Champion Two-Year-Old Shadow Of Light adopting a similar position on the opposite flank.
Tornado Alert, stepping up in class for Saeed bin Suroor following a Newcastle maiden success, made the running and rallied when Green Impact, Seagulls Eleven and Scorthy Champ closed in approaching the final quarter-mile.
Ruling Court made his move for William Buick soon after and quickened powerfully to press for the lead a furlong and a half out, with Shadow Of Light displaying a lightning burst of speed under Mikael Barzalona to join his stable-mate in front.
The Charlie Appleby duo went clear inside the final furlong before Ruling Court edged ahead in the closing strides. Field Of Gold flashed home to catch Shadow Of Light for second near the line, with Ruling Court holding on comfortably for a half-length verdict. Tornado Alert stayed on tenaciously for Silvestre de Sousa in fourth, three and a half lengths behind the leading trio.
Charlie Appleby said: “We came into here with a lot of confidence that we had the right horses. It was a hard choice for William, but he saw it right in respect that he felt Ruling Court would see the mile out. He has outstayed them in the end. Everyone had their chance to have a crack coming out of the dip.
“I thought it might be a good match race between Ruling Court and Shadow Of Light at one point, although Field Of Gold was always going to come to the party late on and put it up to Ruling Court, but it was a great ride from William.
“Ruling Court was a purchased horse but Justify is a sire we saw a bit of last year and we thought we ought to be involved as well.
“He’s the only horse we have entered in the Derby, but we will enjoy today and let the dust settle before trying to formulate a plan. I would be confident that we stick to the Derby route, but those decisions will be made collectively. Ruling Court has that length to him, you can see him as a Derby horse, and that’s what we had in our mind over the winter.
“Mickael felt that Shadow Of Light has seen the mile out, and he’s going to be a fun horse for the summer. He will probably head to the St James’s Palace Stakes and I think he will come forward for today’s run.
“Most importantly, it is great for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and team Godolphin. This is the only way you can repay a man like that for putting his support and faith into me. My family is here – it feels like I am getting older! I enjoy these days, and you learn to enjoy them because they are special.”
William Buick added: “I feel amazing. These races are what it is all about and horses like this are a joy to deal with. To have them at my disposal, I am very grateful. I get to work with great people and, when you have results like this, it is very special.
“We had a very high opinion of Ruling Court last year. He was always going to run in Dubai in the Jumeirah Guineas and he put up an amazing performance there, which gave me something to think about on the way home that night.
“Bearing in mind you have the Dewhurst winner in the stable as well, I have been thinking a lot in recent months. As always, I was led by Charlie and the team, but Shadow Of Light showed what a good horse he is as well. They are two exceptional horses.
“I love the way Ruling Court did it. He is so uncomplicated and we treated him like that today. We did not go looking for cover or anything in particular. We were going to let him do his thing, get comfortable, and then ride him as if a mile is well within his compass.
“It did not feel like a quick gallop early, so I got momentum going into the dip and, when he came out of it, he lengthened all the way to the line. He feels like a horse who could get further as well. A huge engine and that was only his fourth run.
“I think it would be hard to not consider the Derby strongly. If you think a horse is going to stay, that is the race everyone wants. The Guineas is always a very good trial, as we saw with Masar. We think Ruling Court will get further, although you cannot know if he will get a mile and a half, but I think a mile and a quarter is within his grasp. You will only find out in the last furlong at Epsom.”
Saeed bin Suroor said: “I thought Tornado Alert could be a Guineas horse after he won at Newcastle. His work has improved every time, and I felt beforehand that a mile and a quarter would suit him better. I think we will go straight to the Derby now – he’s a nice size of a horse and Epsom should suit him.”
