News Gustav Klimt spearheads Aidan O’Brien’s assault on 2000 Guineas at Newmarket

Gustav Klimt spearheads Aidan O’Brien’s assault on 2000 Guineas at Newmarket

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Aidan O’Brien runs Gustav Klimt, Saxon Warrior and Murillo among a field of 14 as he goes in search of a ninth win in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Ballydoyle handler has, however, decided not to send Dewhurst and Middle Park winner US Navy Flag.

He still holds an extremely strong hand as Gustav Klimt, a Group Two scorer last year, has already shown his well-being when winning a trial at Leopardstown. Saxon Warrior landed the Racing Post Trophy last season.

Even O’Brien’s perceived outsider of the three, Murillo, was only beaten half a length in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

That race was won by Rajasinghe, who will be a first Classic runner for trainer Richard Spencer.

Mark Johnston’s regally-bred Elarqam, by Frankel out of Attraction, will aim to maintain his unbeaten record, while Tip To Win would be a fairytale winner for Roger Teal.

James Garfield, winner of the Greenham Stakes, renews rivalry with the runner-up from that race, Expert Eye, but the third horse home that day, Hey Gaman, will wait for the French Guineas.

Headway will need to prove his stamina over a mile for William Haggas, while Masar, so impressive in the Craven Stakes, will try to prove he is as good as he looked that day.

The Johnston-trained Cardsharp, Nebo, Raid and Roaring Lion complete the field for the Classic.