Ruling Court Delivers Another 2000 Guineas Victory for Godolphin

At Newmarket, the son of Justify got the better of favored Field of Gold by half a length to establish himself as the leader of the generation

Ruling Court Proves Best Down the Newmarket Straight / BHRA

NEWMARKET, Inglaterra (Special for Turf Diario).- After striking on Friday with Good Cheer (Medaglia d’Oro) in the GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, Godolphinadded another jewel to its crown Saturday morning as Ruling Court turned in a career-best performance to land the G1 Betfred 2000 Guineas (1600m, straight, good turf) at Newmarket—the first Classic of the European season.

A son of Justify, Ruling Court had previously captured the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas (L) at Meydan and stepped up in style to deny favored Field of Gold (Kingman) by half a length. In doing so, he mirrored the success of stablemate Notable Speech (Dubawi) in the same race last year, with William Buick once again aboard and Charlie Appleby overseeing preparations.

It marked Godolphin’s sixth win in the British Classic, adding to previous triumphs with Mark of Esteem (Darshaan, 1996), Island Sands (Turtle Island, 1999), Dawn Approach (New Approach, 2013), Coroebus (Dubawi, 2022), and Notable Speech in 2024.

A €2.3 million Arqana purchase in 2024, Ruling Court benefitted from textbook team tactics. Stablemate Tornado Alert(Too Darn Hot) took up pacemaking duties, while Ruling Court made his move along the stands’ side rail from the 600-meter mark. The third member of the blue battalion, Shadow of Light (Lope de Vega), loomed up down the center.

Ruling Court struck the front at the 300-meter pole and held firm to the line, keeping Field of Gold at bay as the favorite failed to quicken immediately. Shadow of Light finished another half-length back in third, with Tornado Alert checking in fourth, 3 1/2 lengths adrift, to complete a 1-3-4 result for the boys in blue. The final time was 1:37.28.

“I had been thinking a lot about which colt to stick with, and I’m glad it worked out,” said a delighted Buick. “We’ve built a great relationship and there’s real trust. I loved the way he had come forward and how he was moving. I think he’ll stay further—he’s got an engine and has only run four times. It’ll be hard not to think about the [G1] Epsom Derby. That’s where everyone looks, and the Guineas is a good pointer.”

The blue wave could roll on yet. Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and East Avenue (Medaglia d’Oro) are set for the GI Kentucky Derby later Saturday, while Desert Flower (Night of Thunder) lines up in Sunday’s G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Will it be a Godolphin clean sweep?