This famous race, one of Britain’s five Classics, was first run in 1809 and takes place at Newmarket during the Guineas Festival. That meeting also sees the fillies-only Classic take place, the 1000 Guineas taking place a day after this contest, usually in late April/early May. The 2000 Guineas takes place on the Rowley Mile over a distance of, you guessed it, a mile. It is the first Classic of the season and the first leg of the Triple Crown and whilst it is technically open to both fillies and colts (aged three only), the last filly to triumph was Garden Path in 1944.
Jem Robinson is the most successful jockey in the race’s history but no need to feel bad if you haven’t heard of him – all of his victories came in the first half of the 19th century. Aiden O’Brien is the leading trainer, with 10 wins to his name, including with the likes of Rock Of Gibraltar and Camelot. He has regularly helped his owners get their hands on the huge prize money for this race, which is not far shy of £300k for the winner and stands at £500,000 in total. Other notable victors include Brigadier Gerard, Nijinsky (the last horse to win the Triple Crown), Sea The Stars and the mighty Frankel.
2026 - Bow Echo
Bow Echo produced a stunning late burst to win the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and fulfil the promise of his unbeaten two-year-old campaign. The Night Of Thunder colt raced alongside Gstaad as the field split across both sides of the Rowley Mile. The pair appeared set for a close finish, but Bow Echo pulled away impressively in the closing stages to win the Classic. The victory was a first British Classic success for 20-year-old jockey Billy Loughnane and made 34-year-old trainer George Boughey the youngest in the post-war era to win both the 1,000 & 2,000 Guineas. A huge future surely awaits the Newmarket-based handler.
- 1st – Bow Echo 9/2, Jockey: Billy Loughnane, Trainer: George Boughey
- 2nd – Gstaad 3/1J, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd – Distant Storm 3/1J, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2025 - Ruling Court
Godolphin secured another 2,000 Guineas victory as Ruling Court prevailed in a thrilling finish at Newmarket. William Buick settled the 9-2 shot behind the leaders, with Kieran Shoemark close by on Craven Stakes winner Field Of Gold. Ruling Court made his move entering the dip and joined stablemate Shadow Of Light, who had emerged as a major threat after going wide to launch an attack. The pair battled through the closing stages but Ruling Court found just enough to hold his stablemate and Field Of Gold, who was storming to the line.
- 1st - Ruling Court 9/2, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 2nd - Field Of Gold 15/8F, Jockey: Kieran Shoemark, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- 3rd - Shadow Of Light 6/1, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2024 - Notable Speech
Notable Speech caused a surprise at Newmarket when making a winning turf debut here. The Charlie Appleby-trained colt had won three times on the all-weather earlier in the year but had never raced on turf. William Buick settled him towards the rear before beginning to make smooth progress with three furlongs to run. The 109-rated horse travelled strongly into contention and moved through the field inside the final two furlongs. Rosallion gave chase in the closing stages, but Notable Speech stayed on strongly to become the first winner since 1938 to land the Classic without racing as a two-year-old.
- 1st - Notable Speech 16/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 2nd - Rosallion 15/2, Jockey: Sean Levey, Trainer: Richard Hannon
- 3rd - Haatem 16/1, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Richard Hannon
2023 - Chaldean
Frankie Dettori enjoyed the perfect farewell to the 2,000 Guineas as Chaldean powered through the rain-softened ground at Newmarket. Riding in the Classic for the final time in his incredible career, Dettori kept the 7-2 shot close to the pace before asking him to quicken in the closing stages. Chaldean soon established a clear advantage and was never seriously threatened. He crossed the line well clear of surprise runner-up Hi Royal, who made connections proud with his effort. The victory was Dettori's fourth in the Newmarket Classic and came on the same day as the coronation of King Charles III.
- 1st - Chaldean 7/2, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: Andrew Balding
- 2nd - Hi Royal 125/1, Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: Kevin Ryan
- 3rd - Royal Scotsman 11/1, Jockey: Jim Crowley, Trainer: Paul & Oliver Cole
2022 - Coroebus
Coroebus ended Native Trail's unbeaten record with a determined victory in this one-mile contest. The third favourite was ridden by James Doyle, who was claiming his first British Classic success. With the field racing on opposite sides of the track, William Buick committed Native Trail for home first, but Coroebus produced an impressive change of pace to move alongside him. The pair battled through the dip before Coroebus gradually established the advantage. He stayed on strongly and was always holding off his stablemate as they reached the winning post.
- 1st - Coroebus 5/1, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 2nd - Native Trail 5/4, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 3rd - Luxembourg 9/2, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: A P O'Brien
2021 - Poetic Flare
Just a short-head separated Poetic Flare and Master Of The Seas in one of the closest finishes in recent 2,000 Guineas history. It was Naval Crown who set a strong initial pace, while Poetic Flare travelled prominently before finding himself in the firing line approaching the final furlong. Master Of The Seas made eye-catching progress under William Buick and the pair fought out the finish. Poetic Flare just got the verdict, giving Bolger and son-in-law Manning a hard-fought victory in a thrilling contest that was a joy to watch.
- 1st - Poetic Flare 16/1, Jockey: Kevin Manning, Trainer: James S. Bolger
- 2nd - Master of the Seas 6/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 3rd - Lucky Vega 12/1, Jockey: Shane Foley, Trainer: Mrs John Harrington
2020 - Kameko
Andrew Balding's Kameko would have stunned the Newmarket crowd, if there had been one, as he beat the previously unbeaten Pinatubo to land the 2,000 Guineas in this Covid-era renewal of the Classic. It took quite an effort to beat the odds-on favourite, but Kameko delivered just that, as he ran a record time of 1min 34.72sec. Seeking a seventh consecutive win, Pinatubo could not find the extra gear needed to match Kameko's pace despite travelling well two furlongs from home. Kameko drifted right late on but had just enough to see off the main challenge from Wichita.
- 1st - Kameko 10/1, Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: Andrew Balding
- 2nd - Wichita 15/2, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: A P O'Brien
- 3rd - Pinatubo 5/6F, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2019 - Magna Grecia
Magna Grecia powered clear to give Aidan O'Brien his 10th 2,000 Guineas success. The Futurity Trophy winner raced on the stands' side with just two other runners. Silvestre de Sousa set a strong pace aboard Shine So Bright and appeared to give his small group every chance. Magna Grecia took over in the closing stages and quickly opened a decisive advantage. King Of Change, who was also part of the small stands’ side group, stayed on to finish second at 66-1, showing just how good the initial pace setting from De Sousa was.
- 1st - Magna Grecia 11/2, Jockey: Donnacha O'Brien, Trainer: A P O'Brien
- 2nd - King of Change 66/1, Jockey: Sean Levey, Trainer: Richard Hannon
- 3rd - Skardu 8/1, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: William Haggas
2018 - Saxon Warrior
A slow start did little to stop Saxon Warrior from landing the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt settled behind the early pace set by Murillo before moving smoothly into contention. He took the lead two furlongs from home and travelled strongly into the dip. When taking the lead, Saxon Warrior never looked like relinquishing it, and those racing in behind were effectively competing for second place. It proved quite a battle for the runner-up spot, with 2nd to 5th separated by just a length.
- 1st - Saxon Warrior 3/1, Jockey: Donnacha O'Brien, Trainer: A P O'Brien
- 2nd - Tip Two Win 50/1, Jockey: David Probert, Trainer: Roger Teal
- 3rd - Masar 5/2F, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2017 - Churchill
Churchill showed a decisive turn of foot to win this Classic contest. Ryan Moore secured a prominent position close to the stands' side rail as stablemate Lancaster Bomber helped set the pace. Churchill moved into the lead approaching the final two furlongs and quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals. He held on for a reasonably comfortable win, though we may have had a different outcome had runner-up Barney Roy not stumbled badly going into the dip. As it was though, O'Brien secured the win, taking him beyond John Scott's record of six Guineas victories.
- 1st - Churchill 6/4F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: A P O'Brien
- 2nd - Barney Roy 7/2, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Richard Hannon
- 3rd - Al Wukair 11/2, Jockey: Gregory Benoist, Trainer: Andre Fabre
2016
- 1st - Galileo Gold 14/1, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: Hugo Palmer
- 2nd - Massaat (IRE) 9/1, Jockey: Paul Hannagan, Trainer: Owen Burrows
- 3rd - Ribchester (IRE) 33/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Richard Fahey
2015
- 1st - Gleneagles 4/1F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: A P O'Brien
- 2nd - Territories (IRE) 5/1, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Andre Fabre
- 3rd - Ivawood (IRE) 10/1, Jockey: Richard Hughes, Trainer: Richard Hannon
2014
- 1st - Night of Thunder (IRE) 40/1, Jockey: Kieren Fallon, Trainer: Richard Hannon
- 2nd - Territories (IRE) 6/4F, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: John Gosden
- 3rd - Ivawood (IRE) 15/2, Jockey: Joseph O'Brien, Trainer: A P O'Briend