Bachelor Duke wins Irish 2000 Guineas

Bachelor Duke upset some better-fancied rivals to record a famous victory in the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh…

Bachelor Duke upset some better-fancied rivals to record a famous victory in the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh today.

Seb Sanders brought the colt down the wide outside to lead well inside the final furlong to land the Group One prize.

Grand Reward and Leitrim House disputed the early lead ahead of Azamour, the 6-4 favourite, and his market rival Grey Swallow with Bachelor Duke going well in fifth of the eight runners.

Leitrim House went on with two furlongs left to go where Azamour found himself short of room with Grey Swallow beginning to mount his challenge.

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Sanders by now had got James Toller's 12-1 chance into top gear as Azamour found racing room but he could not match the winner's turn of foot and Bachelor Duke landed the coveted prize by a length from the favourite with Grey Swallow (2-1) a close third.

Toller said: "That was a long time coming but it's fantastic to get it - my first Classic winner. It was just a shame that the owner couldn't be here to see it.

"He looked like he had improved from the Guineas and has been working well at home. The ground (good to firm) also helped and we'll probably now look at the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot."

John Oxx, trainer of the runner-up, said: "It didn't look a super gallop but the winner won well. Azamour did everything to win, ran to the line, quickened up but was beaten and that's it."

Grey Swallow's trainer Dermot Weld ruled out a bid for the Vodafone Derby with the colt. He said: "We won't go to Epsom. He's run a very good race and stayed on at the finish as he did at Newmarket. We'll now look at the Prix Jean Prat and possibly train him for the Irish Derby."

Earlier, Russian Blue maintained his unbeaten record when landing the Listed Morris Marble Hill Stakes.