Gm, Equinauts

if you liked ALBERT for the Guineas at 10’s,

you’ll f@cking love him at 25’s.

What a rollercoaster of emotions.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

📈BALLYDOYLE’S MARKET MOVERS

Ballydoyle had a couple of big guns out over the weekend and the markets moved accordingly.

First up, ALBERT EINSTEIN. He was heavily sold off in the Guineas markets, again, after a big defeat in the Greenham:

He actually didn’t do that much wrong in the race bar not get up to win but that was enough for books to make him readily available at 25’s for the big race in a couple of weeks time.

His run was a bit of a head scratcher. With zero excuses Saturday, punters have started to laugh at Aidan O’Brien for lauding him a possibly the best, or at least the fastest, horse they’ve ever trained.

One noticeable thing was he definitely stayed the 7f and the fact he ran on at the finished makes us believe they will roll the dice in the Guineas. Our view is that he might benefit from a different way of racing. We said this post-race and will stick to it:

The markets weren’t all bearish for the Lads though as GREST BARRIER REEF did this on debut and exploded into strong fave for Royal Ascot’s Coventry Stakes:

Aidan has won the Coventry four times in the last decade including last years with GSTAAD. So, let’s look at this lads pedigree and see if he has what it takes to not only justify his already incredibly short odds, but also get the job done.

He’s by NO NAY NEVER who, over the last few years has really started to supply Coolmore with rockets. He had a relatively slow start to his sire career, so much so Coolmore spent an absolute fortune on the ill-fated WOOTTON BASSETT in case NNN was a dud.

Well, he’s doing it now though is a sire maker himself - think LITTLE BIG BEAR, BLACKBEARD and TEN SOV’S.

GREAT BARRIER REEF is out of GEMS who was a very average and slow mare who stayed nearly 2 miles. Mad. She clearly produces good ones though as GREAT BARRIER REEF’s full brother was MSYTERY POWER who was a Group 2 winner for Hannon.

It’s amazing GREAT BARRIER REEF is so quick given the stamina on the dam said. It would suggest this lad could potentially be a miler or better in time, especially if he train on next year. Guineas horse? Maybe!

💬GOSDEN WEIGHS IN

John Gosden isn’t just setting the tracks alight with emerging stars, he’s also heating up the current gambling debate, arguing that government has FAILED to grasp the dangers of the rapid growth of the betting black market.

He suggests that stricter checks—intended to curb harmful gambling—are instead pushing bettors toward unregulated operators who offer no safeguards. Drawing a comparison to Prohibition in the United States, Gosden emphasizes that demand for betting doesn’t disappear under restrictions; it simply shifts to illegal channels.

Concerns are echoed at an institutional level, with Brant Dunshea expressing frustration over how the Gambling Commission is handling the rollout of “frictionless” checks. Despite official claims that the pilot has been smooth and effective, industry stakeholders point to mounting evidence of unintended consequences. Surveys indicate most punters refuse to share financial details, while estimates suggest tens of millions have already been wagered through illicit markets at major events.

The Betting and Gaming Council estimate that over £100m was lost to the black market over Aintree’s Grand National meeting alone!

If THAT isn’t a wake up call we don’t know what is.

More big racing personalities need to follow Gosden’s lead instead of burying their heads in the sand hoping someone else will save their world.

More:

✈️CRISFORD PLANS

Classic plans for Rockfel Stakes winner ZANTHOS have been adjusted, with connections opting to sidestep the 1000 Guineas in favour of a tilt at the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in France.

Ed Crisford indicated that the decision was influenced by both conditions and the filly’s development, noting that the Rowley Mile can be a demanding test at this stage of the season. A colder-than-usual spring has also delayed the progress of several fillies in the yard, with ZANTHOS still coming to hand but improving steadily week by week.

Elsewhere in the stable, plans remain fluid for QUDDWAH, who recently filled the runner-up spot in the Dubai Turf, and MEYDAAN, an eye-catching third in the Dubai World Cup. The former has returned from Meydan in good shape, though no immediate target has been set, with a mid-to-late May return pencilled in. The latter, MEYDAAN, meanwhile, is likely to remain on dirt going forward after his strong effort at the top level and will now be given a break before a potential campaign centred around next winter’s Middle East programme.

On a more immediate note, the yard’s Dubai World Cup night success came courtesy of FAIRY GLEN in the Dubai Gold Cup, and she could reappear in Britain later this spring, with options such as the Middleton Stakes at York under consideration.

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