Bachelor Duke grabs Guineas glory
(by Martin Kelly of racingpost.co.uk)
BACHELOR DUKE upset some better-fancied rivals to record a famous victory in the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh.
Seb Sanders brought the colt down the wide outside to lead well inside the final furlong to land the Group One prize in thecolours of the late Duke Of Devonshire.
Grand Reward and Leitrim House disputed the early lead ahead of Azamour, the 6-4 favourite, and his market rival Grey Swallow with Bachelor Duke going well in fifth of the eight runners.
Leitrim House went on with two furlongs left to go where Azamour found himself short of room with Grey Swallow beginning to mount his challenge.
Sanders by now had got James Toller's 12-1 chance into top gear as Azamour found racing room but he could not match the winner'sturn of foot and Bachelor Duke landed the coveted prize by a length from the favourite with Grey Swallow (2-1) a close third.
Bachelor Duke, who lost his maiden tag with today's victory, was reversing Newmarket form with Azamour and Grey Swallow, who had finished third and fourth respectively in the UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas in which Toller's charge had come seventh.