Gstaad Outguns Curragh Rivals in Irish 2,000 Guineas

Gstaad (GB)'s career threatened to unravel into a tale of misfortune at a few junctures last season but the durable colt has now firmly torpedoed that narrative with a dominant performance May 23 under Ryan Moore in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1), giving trainer Aidan O'Brien a 13th success in the Curragh classic. A decisive winner of the Coventry Stakes (G2) on his second career start last season, Gstaad was a beaten favorite in three group 1s subsequently before finally shedding his perennial runner-up tag when bolting up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Del Mar for his Coolmore-affiliated owners of Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Michael Tabor. He came up short on his first quest for classic glory in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) when having to settle for runner-up honors again behind the deeply impressive Bow Echo (IRE) at Newmarket Racecourse. However, as his 4-11 starting price dictated, it was hard to see him being denied a domestic group 1 in the absence of George Boughey's star, and it was every bit as straightforward as the prohibitive odds suggested. "He's a lovely, uncomplicated horse and Ryan gave him a beautiful ride," O'Brien said. "A very straightforward and genuine horse. Ryan said he was a little bit lazy through the race, but when he got him opened up, he went to the line very well." That laziness was most evident when the nine-runner field galloped past the 3-furlong pole as Moore, who had settled the winner in a share of third from stall 8, began to urge him forward at a time when most of his rivals had not been asked any serious questions. But it soon became apparent the rider was just gradually lighting the touchpaper to allow him to blast away in the final furlong. Gstaad muscled his way to the front and once his rider drew his whip, it was all over with the pair rocketing clear to win by a comfortable 3 lengths. The Charlie Appleby-trained Distant Storm (GB) was his nearest pursuer, whose stablemate Pacific Avenue (IRE) ran on to be third. They were no match for the winner in the mile race. "He got beat in three group 1s last year and we felt he was a little bit unlucky each time and we were obviously delighted when he held on to go to America to win his (grade) 1," O'Brien said. "Sometimes, when that happens, horses don't get back but we felt there were circumstances every time he got beat. He's very straightforward, he just needs a little bit of room to get going. Ryan was drawn wide and you'd say that's a disadvantage for some horses but it was lovely for him as he was going to get a clear run at it. "You never know how long they'll last when they're racing at that level, but he lasted to America and then won very easily first time over a mile. It's lovely to have a horse where it doesn't matter if they go fast or slow as he's happy to go along and if the pace is on then he's happy to sit in. He's a very solid, big horse." There should be plenty more twists and turns to come in this career with the prospect of a rematch with Bow Echo in the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) set to ignite the first day of the Royal Ascot meet, while an audacious crack at a Cox Plate (G1) is at the back of his trainer's mind. "We always thought he'd end up getting even a little bit further than a mile. We always thought he could turn into a Cox Plate horse, but there's a lot of water to go under the bridge before then," O'Brien added. A dark bay or brown colt by Starspangledbanner (AUS) out of the Exceed And Excel (AUS) mare Mosa Mine (GB) bred by Maywood Stud in Great Britain, Gstaad is a half sibling to group 1 winner Vandeek (GB). Coolmore's M.V. Magnier bought him as a weanling for the equivalent of $596,488 from the 2023 Tattersalls December Foal Sale.