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French invader Makfi plunders Two Thousand Guineas at 33-1 While there was no shortage of intriguing challengers to even-money favorite St Nicholas Abbey (Montjeu [Ire]) in Saturday's £400,000 Two Thousand Guineas, few latched on to unbeaten French raider MAKFI (Dubawi) as the likeliest upsetter. Bred by Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stud, but culled for $44,842 as an unraced juvenile at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, Makfi crossed the Channel, found a new lease of life with trainer Mikel Delzangles, and returned to his homeland to pull a 33-1 surprise in the classic over Newmarket's Rowley Mile. Makfi, sporting the colors of Mathieu Offenstadt, was reserved off the early pace by Christophe Lemaire. Up front, Greyfriarschorista (King's Best) took over the pacesetting role, with Dick Turpin (Arakan) pressing the leader. Several others, notably St Nicholas Abbey in his seasonal reappearance, were also forwardly placed through the steady tempo. When the 200-1 shot Greyfriarschorista began to fade from the scene, Dick Turpin seized the baton and forged to the lead. St Nicholas Abbey began to come under pressure, but found little and was soon outpaced. Dick Turpin's better-regarded stablemate, Canford Cliffs (Tagula), who was held up early because of doubts regarding his stamina, rallied toward the stands' side. By that point, Makfi was producing a strong late run. Surging past Dick Turpin, he drew 1 1/4 lengths clear while completing the good-to-firm mile in 1:36.35. Dick Turpin held second by a half-length from Canford Cliffs. Xtension (Xaar) checked in fourth, followed by Elusive Pimpernel (Elusive Quality), St Nicholas Abbey, Fencing Master (Oratorio [Ire]), Red Jazz (Johannesburg), Al Zir (Medaglia d'Oro), Fair Trade (Fair Trade [GB]), Viscount Nelson, Giant's Causeway, Lord Zenith (Zamindar), Hearts of Fire (Firebreak), Buzzword (Pivotal), Awzaan (Alhaarth), Inler (Red Ransom), Audacity of Hope (Red Ransom), Greyfriarschorista and Elspeth's Boy (Tiznow). Now three-for-three, Makfi boosted his bankroll to £274,129. The bay made a winning debut at Fontainebleau on November 27 and did not reappear until April 8, when he captured the Prix Djebel (Fr-G3) at Maisons-Laffitte by three lengths. Makfi is from the first crop of the Dubai Millennium stallion Dubawi, hero of the 2005 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1). Makfi's dam, the unraced Green Desert mare Dhelaal, is a half-sister to dual highweight Alhaarth (Unfuwain). This is the family of French classic star and noted sire Green Dancer (Nijinsky II), as well as European champion Authorized (Montjeu [Ire]), hero of the 2007 Derby (Eng-G1).
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