3rd March 2020 – Saeed bin Suroor, the dual QIPCO 2000 Guineas-winning trainer, today issued an upbeat bulletin about his unbeaten New Approach colt, Military March, as entries were revealed for the first two Classics of the year, the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and QIPCO 1000 Guineas, which will take place at the Rowley Mile Racecourse in Newmarket on Saturday, 2nd May and Sunday, 3rd May.
 
Both races are run over a straight mile and each one is worth £500,000. They are also the first two legs of the QIPCO British Champions Series of 2020 which culminates with the staging of QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 17th October.
 
A total of 77 colts have been entered in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas while 62 fillies have been engaged in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas. The first forfeit stage for each race takes place on 21st April while anyone who missed today’s deadline can make use of the supplementary entry stage, on 27th April, which allows new horses to be entered at a cost of £30,000 apiece.
 
Godolphin has an exceptionally strong hand this year as it bids for a fourth QIPCO 2000 Guineas success, following the victories of the bin Suroor-trainees Mark Of Esteem (1996) and Island Sands (1999) and that of another progeny of New Approach, Dawn Approach, in 2013.
 
Most attention will be attracted towards Godolphin’s three unbeaten Group 1-winning sons of Shamardal, in particular the European Champion Two-Year-Old, Pinatubo, brilliant winner of the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, together with the Andre Fabre-trained pair of Earthlight (successful in both the Prix Morny and the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes) and Victor Ludorum (who landed the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere).
 
But Military March, a fourth Godolphin home-bred, himself has a perfect two-from-two record and his most recent appearance saw him land the Group 3 Dubai Autumn Stakes over the full QIPCO 2000 Guineas course and distance on 12th October.
 
The Dubai Autumn Stakes has recent history of being a key pointer to future Classic and Group 1 glory – its 2018 renewal saw the subsequent French 2,000 Guineas winner, Persian King, beat last year’s QIPCO 2000 Guineas hero, Magna Grecia, into second place with Circus Maximus, who went on to lift both the St James’s Palace Stakes and the Prix du Moulin, back in third.
 
Other top class entries include the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy winner, Kameko; the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes scorer, Siskin; and, among an 18-strong contingent from the yard of Aidan O’Brien, Arizona, successful in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes prior to chasing home Pinatubo in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes.
 
The 62 entries for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas are led by Roger Charlton’s Quadrilateral, unbeaten winner of October’s Group 1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile.
 
Millisle and Albigna, Group 1 scorers in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes and the Prix Marcel Boussac respectively, are two of a quartet of fillies entered by Irish trainer Jessica Harrington, while Raffle Prize, runner-up in both the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes and the Prix Morny following her triumph in the Group 2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes (sponsored by bet365), represents the Yorkshire handler, Mark Johnston, alongside the dual Group 3 winner, Rose Of Kildare.
 
 
Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Military March, said:
 
“Military March has been entered for the 2000 Guineas and he is currently in full training in the UK where mentally and physically he has progressed from two to three.
 
“He has a big action and is a well-balanced horse, he’s currently galloping weekly and continues to thrive. His exercise regime will increase over the coming weeks and to this point he has not missed a days’ training this winter.
 
“With him having been such a big framed two-year-old it’s fantastic to see he’s grown into that and continues to have a good mindset. We feel the 2000 Guineas would be a fantastic starting point, although this is probably going to be his minimum trip.
 
“However, being a course and distance winner as a two-year-old should stand him in good stead. Historically the 2000 Guineas has been a good Derby trial for various contenders over the years, a discussion will be had with His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed over Military March’s participation in May. Were he to run and run well then the Classic route would be the next step.
 
“The Autumn Stakes has produced winners of the English 2000 Guineas as recently as 2018 so it’s an important race to have won but we are under no illusion that the horse has to progress and improve as a three-year-old. From what we’ve seen in his work to date, he has done, and he continues to be an exciting prospect for the coming year.”
 
 
Notes to Editors
The 77 entries for the Group 1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas run over a mile at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Saturday, 2nd May, are as follows:
Al Madhar (FR), Alson (GER), Al Suhail (GB), Arctic Vega (GB), Arizona (IRE), Armory (IRE), Boccaccio (IRE), Boosala (IRE), Celestin (FR), Choice of Mine (AUS), Count of Amazonia (IRE), Crossfirehurricane (USA), Devil (IRE), Earthlight (IRE), Encipher (GB), Enemy (GB), Fifth Fleet (IRE), Fiscal Rules (IRE), Fort Myers (USA), Highland Chief (IRE), Hypothetical (IRE), Iberia (IRE), Imrahor (GB), Innisfree (IRE), Juan Elcano (GB), Kameko (USA), Kenzai Warrior (USA), Khaloosy (IRE), King Leonidas (GB), King of Athens (USA), Kinross (GB), Lampang (IRE), Lope Y Fernandez (IRE), Lord of The Lodge (IRE), Lyric Gold (GB), Military March (GB), Mishriff (IRE), Mogul (GB), Molatham (GB), Monarch of Egypt (USA), Montather (IRE), Mums Tipple (IRE), Mystery Power (IRE), New World Tapestry (USA), Order of Australia (IRE), Palace Pier (GB), Persuasion (IRE), Photograph (IRE), Pinatubo (IRE), Positive (GB), Prince of Naples (IRE), Psyche (GB), Raaeq (IRE), Ramesses The Great (USA), Rebel Tale (USA), Ropey Guest (GB), Royal Dornoch (IRE), Royal Lytham (FR), San Pedro (IRE), Sherpa (IRE), Siskin (USA), Sky Commander (IRE), Starcat (GB), The Rain King (IRE), The Turpinator (IRE), Threat (IRE), Thunderous (IRE), Tom Collins (GB), Tsar (GB), Tyson Fury (GB), Vatican City (IRE), Victor Ludorum (GB), Waldkonig (GB), Well of Wisdom (GB), Wichita (IRE), With Respect (IRE), Year of The Tiger (IRE) (77).
 
The 62 entries for the Group 1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas run over a mile at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse on Sunday, 3rd May, are as follows:
Albigna (IRE), Alpen Rose (IRE), Alpine Star (IRE), A New Dawn (IRE), Badrah (USA), Banna (GB), Blissful (IRE), Boomer (GB), Born With Pride (IRE), Cloak of Spirits (IRE), Cressida (GB), Daahyeh (GB), Dark Lady (GB), Declaring Love (GB), Diamond Ring (IRE), Disco Fever (GB), Donnybrook (IRE), Dubai Love (GB), Ellerslie Lace (FR), Ennistymon (IRE), Etoile (USA), Even So (IRE), Exhibit (IRE), Fancy Blue (IRE), Fantail (GB), Frankly Darling (GB), Gin Blossom (IRE), Graceful Magic (GB), Greenland (USA), Jaariyah (USA), Khayzaraan (GB), Lil Grey (IRE), Love (IRE), Magical Journey (IRE), Maria Rosa (USA), Millisle (IRE), Moonwalk (IRE), New York Girl (IRE), Passion (IRE), Peaceful (IRE), Pocket Square (GB), Quadrilateral (GB), Raffle Prize (IRE), Rolleville (FR), Rose of Kildare (IRE), Separate (GB), Sesame Birah (IRE), Shadn (IRE), Shimmering (IRE), So Wonderful (USA), Spring of Love (GB), Stylistique (GB), Summer Romance (IRE), Tango (IRE), Theotherside (IRE), Tropbeau (GB), Under The Stars (IRE), Unforgetable (IRE), Valeria Messalina (IRE), Wasaayef (IRE), With Thanks (IRE), Yes Always (IRE) (62).
 
 
About Newmarket Racecourses
Newmarket’s two magical racecourses, the Rowley Mile and the July Course, together form the greatest venue in the East of England. Hosting exhilarating world class Flat racing, pulsating music nights, great value family days, award-winning restaurants and exceptional conferences, three years ago Newmarket Racecourses proudly celebrated 350 years of extraordinary royal patronage.
 
Newmarket Racecourses is part of The Jockey Club which stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Cheltenham Festival and The Investec Derby. Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences we offer through racing, music, food and entertainment. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny we make goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive. We were founded in 1750 and today we are the largest commercial group in Britain’s second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and our charity, Racing Welfare. For more information visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk.

About QIPCO British Champions Series
QIPCO British Champions Series showcases 35 of the UK’s finest Flat races, including three of the world’s top five. The Series features all of the UK’s most iconic Flat festivals, from the Guineas and the Derby, to Glorious Goodwood and Royal Ascot, presenting unparalleled, quality racing across 10 of the country’s finest racecourses.
 
The Series exhibits world-class sporting action across five different categories – Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies & Mares.
 
Five top-class races mark the climax of the Series on the Ultimate Raceday, QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 17th October, where the world’s best compete at the nation’s richest raceday.