Ride Like the Wind among 34 left in 2000 Guineas

The Freddie Head-trained Ride Like the Wind (Lope de Vega) was one of 34

entries remaining in the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) at Wednesday's

declaration stage for the May 2 classic, and the Olivier Thomas silkbearer has

his conditioner comparing him to Charm Spirit, who was Head's first Guineas

entrant last year, finishing fifth in that vintage renewal before going on to

win three Group 1s.

"He is on the same sort of level as Charm Spirit was at this time last year,"

Head said. "They are similar horses in that they tend to be a bit keen and if

Ride Like the Wind settles better than Charm Spirit did last year, I think that

he has a good chance."

Ride Like The Wind, a grandson of triple Grade 1-winning mare Kostroma bred

by S F Bloodstock, broke his maiden at first-asking last July but failed to

shine at the pattern level, finishing fourth in the Prix de Cabourg (Fr-G3) and

sixth in the Prix Morny (Fr-G1) at Deauville before rounding out his season with

a second in conditions company at Longchamp in September. He filled the same

slot in a Polytrack conditions race at Deauville on March 6 and won the Prix

Djebel (Fr-G3) April 2. Head said he has given his charge two runs, "to get the

freshness out of him before the Guineas."

"I was very happy with his Prix Djebel victory," Head added. "He settled then

quickened well and it was to his credit that he won despite being held up at the

back of the field when the pace was slow. The undulations at Newmarket won't be

a problem for him and although seven furlongs is a good trip for him at the

moment, I think that he will stay a mile as long as he relaxes and gets a good

run. He needs good or good-to-firm ground."

Ride Like the Wind currently sits at 40-1 for the Guineas, and his 33

possible rivals include current market leaders Gleneagles (Galileo) and his

Ballydoyle stable companion Highland Reel (Galileo) as well as dual Group 2

winner and last week's Greenham S. (Eng-G3) second Estidhkaar (Dark Angel).

Trainer Jim Bolger will be hoping his Rockfel S. (Eng-G2) scorer Lucida (Shamardal),

who was one of 25 fillies remaining in the May 3 One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1)

at Wednesday's declaration stage, will continue to follow the path of his

previous winner of that classic, Finsceal Beo, who closed out her juvenile

campaign with a Rockfel score, having previously taken the Prix Marcel Boussac

(Fr-G1). She won the Guineas first-up without a prep and Godolphin colorbearer

Lucida will attempt to do the same.

"We have decided to send her there without another run as I wanted to follow

the same route as I did with Finsceal Beo," Bolger confirmed. "It is difficult

to compare the two as they are different types of fillies and Finsceal Beo had

already won a Group 1 in Paris by this stage, but Lucida's performance was good

when she won the Rockfel."

All the top contenders remained engaged in the Guineas Wednesday, including

Ballydoyle stablemates Found (Galileo) and Together Forever (Galileo), the top

two betting choices at 5-2 and 10-1, respectively. Lucida is one of three at

12-1 in addition to Prix Imprudence (Fr-G3) winner Ervedya (Siyouni) and Rockfel

second Fadhayyil (Tamayuz).

Sympathy (Henrythenavigator), an eye-catching maiden winner at Leicester in

October, has been ruled out of the One Thousand Guineas and will instead prepare

for later-season targets.

A statement on the Highclere website read, "(Sympathy) has been in season and

is still shedding her winter coat, so rather than pushing her to be ready

(trainer) Sir Michael Stoute has sensibly made the decision to wait until the

filly tells him she is ready. Sympathy holds some exciting entries for later in

the season."

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