Fields forming for English Guineas

All the big guns stood their ground for next weekend's English Two Thousand

and One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) at Newmarket following the latest forfeit

stage.

A total of 30 colts were listed for the former, headed by the undefeated,

multiple Group 1-winning NEW APPROACH (Galileo [Ire]). In the fillies'

equivalent, Nell Gwyn S. (Eng-G3) winner INFALLIBLE (Pivotal), May Hill S.

(Eng-G2) scorer SPACIOUS (Nayef), Fred Darling S. (Eng-G3) heroine MUTHABARA

(Red Ransom) and Cheveley Park S. (Eng-G1) winner NATAGORA (Divine Light) head

the 28 fillies remaining.

As expected, Winker Watson (Piccolo) was ruled out of the Two Thousand

Guineas due to a setback alongside the unbeaten pair of Tamayuz (Nayef) and

Bruges (Marju). Other notables to be withdrawn were Myboycharlie (Danetime),

River Proud (Proud Citizen) and Famous Name (Dansili [GB]).

Juddmonte may still be represented in the £375,000

contest by Craven S. (Eng-G3) scorer TWICE OVER (Observatory), while John Gosden

has a strong sole contender in Craven runner-up RAVEN'S PASS (Elusive Quality).

Ballydoyle trimmed its team to four, headed Killavullan S. (Ire-G3) winner

JUPITER PLUVIUS (Johannesburg), and Godolphin has a quintet including Dewhurst

S. (Eng-G1) runner-up FAST COMPANY (Danehill Dancer) and Racing Post Trophy 

(Eng-G1) winner IBN KHALDUN (Dubai Destination).

Fab Oak Stables' Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner NOWNOWNOW (Whywhywhy) is

an intriguing contender from the David Wachman barn, while Hughie Morrison has

given the green light to Michael Kerr-Dineen's European Free H. scorer

STIMULATION (Choisir).

"He seems to have come out of the race really well and I'm very happy with

him," Morrison said. "It looks as if he has done himself rather well in the last

week. We are realistic and, while I wouldn't say that he needs to make a quantum

leap, he does need to make a big step upwards on the form book, but plenty of

horses have not run up to form as they should have done. Of those who have not

run, it could be that they are as good as last year, but there is no

guaranteeing it."

Among the One Thousand Guineas defections, the injured Sense of Joy (Dansili

[GB]) and Group 1 victress Listen (Sadler's Wells) were the most notable, but

the latter stable could still call on a quartet of contenders including Rockfel

S. (Eng-G2) scorer KITTY MATCHAM (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]). Despite having the

following Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas)

(Fr-G1) as a target, His Highness the Aga Khan's Prix Marcel Boussac (Fr-G1)

winner ZARKAVA (Zamindar) has been left in the Newmarket classic by trainer

Alain de Royer-Dupre. The owner-breeder's Racing Manager George Rimaud explained

the situation on Wednesday.

"Our goal is to go for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and then we'll see,"

he told PA Sport. "If everything was well with the filly after that, the next

goal would be the French Oaks. But, one never knows what the weather is going to

be like and what the situation will be, so we have kept her entry at Newmarket

just in case one might need to run there. It is really a precaution, but it

depends on the other horses we have and where they go, and the owner will tend

to make a decision nearer the time."