Interestntimesahead leaves tongues wagging ahead of 2000 Guineas

EXERCISE-WATCHERS’ TONGUES were sent wagging last Sunday morning after ante-post favourite INTERESTNTIMESAHEAD and stablemate PROVIDENT went through their last speed gallop ahead of Sunday’s 2000 Guineas.

PROVIDENT, who ran a vastly improved race in the Kingston, finishing fourth on his second start, nine and a quarter lengths behind INTERESTNTIMESAHEAD, won the exercise match-up of stablemates, clocking a solid 1:15.0 for six furlongs.

INTERESTNTIMESAHEAD, in clockers’ parlance, “dropped out of the gallop”, posting 1:16.3 behind PROVIDENT, who was no match for him in the Kingston, chasing in vain before being overhauled by late-closing CATAIN SPARROW and CROWN CHASER.

Both were back at exercise two days later, cantering from the winning post, befuddling exercise-watchers searching for answers.

Considering INTERESTNTIMESAHEAD’s dominance since getting off the mark on his second start, an incredibly easy stroll in the slop mid-December as a two-year-old, it is hardly likely that the DaCostas would chance a potential derby winner were his health in question.

Returning to the gallops, two days later, suggests a minor issue might have reared its head last Sunday, causing INTERESTNTIMESAHEAD to put in an underwhelming shift at exercise.

CROWN CHASER, third in the Kingston, nine lengths behind INTERESTNTIMESAHEAD, has worked really well, clocking 1:14.4 for six furlongs last Monday. A half-brother to in-utero DOUBLE CROWN, who showed unfulfilled classic potential in 2020, CROWN CHASER returns fitted with visor in which he has been training for the past week.

Unless something has gone drastically wrong, INTERSTNTIMESAHEAD belongs in a different league, certainly at a mile. Spotting the Prince Consort field almost a dozen lengths at the off and winning by two and a half tells the tale of the tape, explaining his Kingston romp from in front.