HORSE RACING: It's Piggott for the 1000 guineas-Eddery for the 2000 guineas
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from April 1982.
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Boutin saddles current favourite Play It Safe in the 1,000 guineas on Thursday and second favourite Zino in the 2,000 guineas on Saturday.
Two years ago, Boutin left Newmarket disconsolate after the pride of his stable, the million-dollar colt Nureyev, had finished first in the 2,000 guineas, only to be disqualified. This week could well make for any lingering memories of that disaster.
Play It Safe, owned by Mrs. Bertram Firestone, and Zino, who belongs to Gerry Oldham, ran impressive classic trials on the same day, April 6, at Maisons Laffitte. Play It Safe won the Prix Imprudence by three lengths and Zino left the nearest opposition trailing six lengths in arrears in the Prix Djebel.
English classic maestro Lester Piggott rode Play It Safe and French jockey Freddy Head was on Zino -- the same riding arrangements as for this weeks' classics.
Newmarket trainer Henry Cecil, whohas first claim on Piggott's services, has no runner in the 1,000 Guineas, the fillies' classic, and Piggott is therefore free to ride for Boutin.
The race appears to lie between three fillies, Play It Safe and two representatives from Barry Hills' English stable, Slightly Dangerous and Merlin's Charm. Slightly Dangerous was won well in her only previous race this season. Merlin's Charm was beaten in her pre-classic outing, but she was travelling strongly at the end and the experience will have done the lightly-raced filly good.
Young American Steve Cauthen, Hills' stable jockey, is faced with a difficult choice between the pair. But even the better of the two, whichever it is, will have her work cut out ot beat the tough and experienced play it safe with the inimitable Piggott on board.
The 2,000 guineas, the colt's classic, looks more open and Zino does not appear to have as good a chance as Play It Safe of providing Boutin with a win.
Silver Hawk, a son of Epsom Derby winner Roberto, won the Craven Stakes at Newmarket this season in the manner of a top-notch colt and has been promoted favourite for the classic.
He has international connections -- his owner Mahmoud Fustok is from Saudi Arabia, he is trained by Michael Abina, whom Fustok brought from Jordan to look after his horses quartered at Newmarket, and he will be ridden by Irishman Tony Murray.
Trainer Guy Harwood switched Hays from his original target of the French 2,000 guineas to the Newmarket classic following a bad run this season by his intended Newmarket challenger Sandhurst Prince.
Hays and Lester Piggott's Mount Cajun both have winning form this year and must be in with a chance. Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien, once a power in the English classics but without a win in these great three-year-old races since 1977, runs achieved, who was unbeaten in three races last year. He met his first defeat early this month, but since then has run again and won and could be coming to his peak at the right time.
Achieved will stay the mile out to the last yard, and with top jockey Pat Eddery in the saddle he could prove the one they all have to beat.
