Irish 2000 Guineas ? Race Details:
When:	May
Track Location:	Curragh Racecourse, Co. Kildare
Race Distance:	1 mile (1609 metres)
Race Status:	Group 1
Race Conditions:	Three-year-old Colts and Fillies at Set Weights
Stakes:	?400 000
Inaugurated:	1921

The Irish 2000 Guineas is the first jewel in the Ireland Triple Crown and is held at the Curragh Racecourse in May each year. Open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, geldings are excluded from this Group 1 flat race that is run over 1 mile on a right-handed turf track. Today the stakes are set at ?400 000.

Irish-trained Soldennis was the inaugural winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas when it was first run in 1921. It is the second Irish Classic conducted at The Curragh each year, following the Irish 1000 Guineas which is the fillies? equivalent.

The Irish 2000 Guineas is modelled around the English version, the 2000 Guineas Stakes. It takes place three weeks after its English counterpart and many horses making up the field have previously competed in the British 2000 Guineas Stakes. Throughout history there have been seven runners to claim victory in both of these Group 1 races, Right Track (1969), Don?t Forget Me (1987), Tirol (1990), Rodrigo de Triano (1993), Rock of Gibraltar (2002), Cockney Rebel (2007) and Henrythenavigator (2003). So make sure to check out the form of entries in this earlier British race as a good guide to your Irish 2000 Guineas wagers.

Because the Irish 2000 is held so early in the racing season, there are not many other prep races for punters to watch to help aid them in selecting their favourites for the event. Therefore, it is essential to look at the performance of the two-year-old colts and geldings over similar short-distance races in the previous racing season. Also look for entries who have some experience on the Curragh track and sprinters who display speed above stamina.

Another thing to watch when betting on the Irish 2000 Guineas aside from the horses? form is the career statistics of the trainers. The status and prestige of this race attracts many of the top thoroughbred trainers from all over the world. Some of the leading trainers who have achieved much success at Curragh and whose entries are worth considering for your Irish 2000 bets include Aidan O?Brien, Jim Bolger, Dermot Weld and Saeed bin Suroor.

Horses that do well in the race may then be aimed at the Group 1 St. James?s Palace Stakes (1mile) the following month at Ascot Racecourse. Runners may also try for a celebrated and extremely challenging Triple Crown victory by contesting the next two legs of the series, the Irish Derby (1m4f) in July and the Irish St. Leger (1m6f) in September.

There has only ever been one filly to claim victory in the race, the excellent mare Triptych in 1985, who went on to collect nine Group 1 wins throughout her racing career. Irish and English trained horses have seen the most success on the field in the Irish 2000 Guineas, with only one American trained entry ever claiming victory, Fourstars Allstar (1991).

Irish 2000 Guineas ? Records:
Most Successful Jockey (since 1950):	Christy Rouche achieved four Irish 2000 Guineas victories with Ballymore (1972), Nikoli (1980), Triptych (1985) and Desert King (1997).
Most Successful Trainer (since 1950):	The famous Aidan O?Brien has had six wins with Desert King (1997), Saffron Walden (1999), Black Minnaloushe (2001), Rock of Gibraltar (2002), Henrythenavigator (2003) and Mastercraftsman (2009).

Irish 2000 Guineas ? Recent Race Results:

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2009	Mastercraftsman	Johnny Murtagh	Aidan O’Brien	Smith / Magnier / Tabor	1:48.16
2008	Henrythenavigator	Johnny Murtagh	Aidan O’Brien	Sue Magnier	1:39.63
2007	Cockney Rebel	Olivier Preslier	Geoff Huffer	Phil Cunningham	1:36.10
2006	Araafa	Alan Munro	Jeremy Noseda	Al Homaizi / Al Sagar	1:49.80
2005	Dubawi	Frankie Dettori	Saeed bin Suroor	Goldolphin	1:41.60
2004	Bachelor Duke	Seb Sanders	James Toller	Exors of Duke of Devonshire	1:40.00
2003	Indian Haven	John Egan	Paul D’Arch	Gleeson / Smith / Conway	1:41.50
2002	Rock of Gibraltar	Michael Kinane	Aidan O’Brien	Ferguson / Magnier	1:47.30
2001	Black Minnaloushe	Johnny Murtagh	Aidan O’Brien	Sue Magnier	1:41.40
2000	Bachir	Frankie Dettori	Saeed bin Suroor	Goldolphin	1:39.80