An interesting angle to this season's 2000 Guineas is the entry of the Spanish colt Noozhoh Canarias, trained by Enrique Leon. The Spanish superstar has met with defeat just once in his 5 career starts, finishing 3/4L second to Karakontie in the Grand Criterium last October. On his seasonal comeback in Madrid yesterday he again went off from the front and trounced his rivals by upwards of 7 lengths, despite being reportedly "only 70% fit and not liking the soft ground". Here the video: [video=youtube;nkPatRb20nc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkPatRb20nc[/video] Clearly a talented colt, he is still available at 33/1 for the Newmarket classic with Billy Hills. On the Racing Post website, a delighted Leon said: "I was very happy because he doesn't like soft ground but he was still a different class to the others and he won very easily. He was about 70 percent fit and that, along with running on better ground, will mean he will be a lot better next time." Noozhoh Canarias has attempted to make the running in all but one of his five starts but Leon stressed it was a decent gallop that the son of Caradak requires, rather than any need to dominate. "He doesn't have to lead, if there is a good pace he can sit behind," said Leon. "But he needs to use his action because if you rein him back he puts his head in the air and gets upset." Leon added: "He's a very simple horse to train because he recovers very quickly from his races and is very professional. We will see but, he will probably need another strong gallop between now and the Guineas because he didn't have to do a lot today." Not saying he will win or anything, but it's nice to see a Spanish runner even entered and he certainly adds a bit of interest to the race. Could we see another Frankel-esque demolition job???
Nothing much wrong with the pedigree. Although his sire, Caradak, was a 7-8f horse he'd comfortably stay 10f based on his dam's pedigree.
He's certainly an interesting little fella. Who knows, he might just run a nice race. Hopefully he will.
Would be nice for the Spanish to have something to shout about Cyc - they're having a rough old time at the moment. Horrendous unemployment, especially amongst the young people.
I'm going to get Amanda to take a look at this video. Maybe it's the video, maybe it's my screen, but this horse doesn't look that great to me. He doesn't seem to be covering a great deal of ground. I certainly wouldn't be backing him in a Group 1 over here, over any distance. please log in to view this image
You are probably right there Cyc. After studying again with Amanda she felt that, apart from the fact he looked powerful, nothing could be concluded from that video as it was poor quality. Seems therefore my earlier comment was premature.
Never ceases to absolutely annoy the **** out of me when folk upload videos onto t'internet and can't get the ****ing aspect ratio right. Almost every video you see of a horse race has the horses squished to feck and makes it barely watchable. Get it sorted the **** out !!!
Yes, Oddy, I will look into my fecking aspect ratio right away. Shame on me.... please log in to view this image
Noozhoh Canarias has this morning been tipped up for the 2,000 Guineas by Pricewise. He’s advised his regular readers to have 1 pt win on the old boy at 25/1. As a result of this advice that 25’s is, at the time of writing, only now available at Ladbrokes whilst he’s as low as 16’s with several bookie chappies.
He seems a good horse but it was a poor renewal in my opinion don't think he can win the 2000G with his running style I would prefer to see him in the French version where often the better horses encounter trouble in a farcical race
Of course he is a good horse there was no fluke about his excellent effort in France when he was second in the GRAND CRITERIUM. He was very keen and still only went down by half a length. The third was a Group 2 winner next time out. He is interesting and shouldn't be written off as his form in France suggests he is capable of running a very big race at Newmarket. God knows what he is beating in Spain but the French form is very solid.
He is a couple ahead of Wilshire boulevard by a length and bit in that race compared to winners in the past and the strength of the races for me it's not a classic winning field that day. Think there are better bets than him. If I am backing anything at prices outstrip and war command at the prices over the hype horses how I think are very very good. Interesting runner for me would be Adelaide ! Just surprised there isn't a Meehan horse flying yet !
I don't think too many are suggesting that Noozhoh Canarias is the one to beat in the Guineas Mick, I think most of us are just hoping to find a reason for him to run well. Having the Germans step up in the last few years has been a delight, and the thought of the net being cast still wider, is rather exciting.
It certainly makes for a more exciting race and build up when another country believes they have a superstar to beat ours. It adds to the prestige of the race. I recall fondly the day I went to Ascot to see the KG in 1956 and there was this horse that had come over from Italy known as Ribot the Italian Wonder Horse. Having won the previous year's Arc with the jockey not using the whip and easing his mount some way out, much was expected; the rest is history. The more top horses we can attract from other countries, the better.
Does anyone know what times this horse has been clocking in Spain and how they compare with other horses over the same course and distance(s) and going?
I've been trying to find the race record for the Premio, but have had no luck. He clocked 1.16.28, which on face value is slow, but I know nothing about the course and the conditions of the race on the day. His trainer Enrique Leon once worked for James Farnshawe and rode work on the 5 time G1 winner Soviet Song who finished fourth in the Guineas, so he'd have some idea on what it takes to make the grade.
