In the history of the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m), it has proven difficult for colts to achieve the English-Irish double, with only two three-year-olds completing the feat.

However, the Curragh contest has proven to be an opportunity for defeated Newmarket runners to achieve their own Classic success – a chance which will be taken by Gstaad, second behind Bow Echo in the Group 1 1000 Guineas (1600m)

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, who masterminded Churchill legendary Guineas double in 2017, Gstaad ended his two-year-old season with an excellent win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (1600m), a first Group/Grade 1 success for the son of Starspangledbanner. He had the poor fortune to meet some of the top European juveniles in his previous three starts to the Del Mar win, finishing second behind Gewan, Zavateri and Venetian Sun in Britain, Ireland and France.

Ridden by Ryan Moore on seasonal reappearance in the 1000 Guineas (1600m), Gstaad was no match for George Boughey’s Bow Echo, finishing two-and-three quarter lengths behind his rival, but the pair did pull eight lengths clear of the re-opposing third-placed horse Distant Storm.

“Gstaad pulled hard the whole way [in the Guineas],” said O’Brien. “At Newmarket with no cover, he ran a great race, he quickened away from the third horse and they were eight lengths ahead. George’s horse got a little bit of cover in the first part of the race, and it’s hard to quicken if you don’t have cover. That’s what happened to Gstaad, and he drifted to the right instead of coming to the left.

“We were delighted with the run, the winner was very good on the day and it didn’t work out totally for us.

“Our plan is to go to the Irish 2000 Guineas and then the St James’s Palace Stakes [ at Royal Ascot] after.”

Recent statistics play in Gstaad’s favour, given the last two winners of the Irish 2000 Guineas (1600m) finished second at Newmarket – Rosallion was beaten by Notable Speech in 2024 and Field Of Gold suffered defeat behind Ruling Court in 2025.

Photo: Healy Racing Photo