Gstaad Looks for First Win of Year in Irish Guineas

Gstaad (GB) will face nine rivals in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) as he attempts to go one better than his Newmarket Racecourse second at the Curragh May 23. The son of Starspangledbanner continued his record of finishing in the first two in every appearance when he was beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Bow Echo (IRE) in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1). Gstaad's brilliant first season was capped off with Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) success, and he is set to lead the line for Aidan O'Brien, who bids for a record-extending 13th victory in the race, and a first since 2023. Neolithic (IRE), a winner of two of his six starts, will also represent the leading trainer. Charlie Appleby returned to winning form last weekend, and he will be reliant on Distant Storm (GB) to follow up Notable Speech (GB)'s big-race success. A winner of last season's Somerville Stakes (G3), he finished 8 lengths behind Gstaad in third at Newmarket. William Buick is on the sidelines because of a six-day suspension for overuse of the whip on Caballo de Mar (IRE) in the Sagaro Stakes (G3) earlier this month, with Billy Loughnane deputizing on Distant Storm and Jamie Spencer riding stablemate Pacific Avenue (IRE). Karl Burke has enjoyed a lightning start to the season, having already surpassed the £1 million mark for prize money in Britain, and he goes in search of another big pot with impressive Greenham Stakes (G3) winner Alparslan (IRE). Group 3 winner Thesecretadversary (IRE), who finished a further two positions behind Distant Storm in fifth in the Guineas, will also take his chance.