Galileo Gold has run out an emphatic winner of the 2000 Guineas for Frankie Dettori and Hugo Palmer at Newmarket.
Prominent throughout, the Al Shaqab-owned colt streaked clear going into the dip and beat Massaat by 1-1/2 lengths.
The odds-on favourite Air Force Blue was in trouble early and finished with the tailenders behind Galileo Gold who had been supported from 25-1 to 14-1.
It was a first British Classic for Palmer who won last year’s Irish Oaks with Cover Lass.
“Frankie was so alert. He said nothing had been coming from behind and that if nothing took us on, he would do it himself and he did,” Palmer said.
“There were no hard luck stories, for us anyway. It was a masterful ride.
“He had a very willing partner and I feel so lucky to have him.”
The win was the third in the race for the exuberant Dettori.
“I had a lot of faith in him and I knew we’d be in the first three,” he said.
“We had a bad draw but he’s a great horse.
“My main forte is that he stays, he galloped out really strong.”
With that in mind, Galileo Gold is as short as 8-1 for the Epsom Derby (2400m) but his trainer has not yet decided his next target.
“”It looked like he stayed a mile best of those he beat today, but I don’t think any of those were prominent in the Derby market,” Palmer said.
“I don’t know about the Derby.
“He’s got an entry in the French Derby and the St James’s Palace and Irish Guineas. We’ll let the dust settle. I’ll probably feel human again by Wednesday.”
