Henrythenavigator and Natagora victorious at Newmarket
Henrythenavigator overturned hot favourite New Approach in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last Saturday (3 May).
In a hard-fought finish the Aiden O’Brien trained Henrythenavigator beat the 11-4 favourite New Approach by a nose, which was decided by a photofinish.
Jim Bolger’s New Approach made all the running but 11-1 shot Henrythenavigator stormed from the back of the pack under a commanding ride from Johnny Murtagh.
It was a fifth 2,000 Guineas win for Irish trainer Aiden O’Brien and a third for Coolmore’s new retained jockey Johnny Murtagh.
Stubbs Art ridden by last season’s joint champion jockey Seb Sanders finished third.
Henrythenavigator might be now looking to tackle the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
In the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday (4 May) the 11-4 favourite Natagora held off tough competition from Spacious in a close finish, winning by half a length.
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Trained in France by Pascal Bary, Natagora became the 15th French-trained winner of the race. She also provided Pascal Bary with a long awaited first British win of his career.
Meanwhile her victory marked a fifth Newmarket Group One race win for jockey Christophe Lemaire.
In third was Saoirse Abu ridden by Kevin Manning and trained by Jim Bolger.
Plans for the filly’s future are yet to be decided — Natagora is currently entered in the French Guineas, Irish Guineas, the Coronation Stakes, the French Oaks and the French Derby.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.