Guineas winners who were unbeaten and those who lost their perfect records

There is always something magical about an unbeaten racehorse with a string of 1s against his or her name. Six runs yielded six victories for the outstanding Pinatubo last year, including twice in Group One company, and he will seek to extend that sequence in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket a week tomorrow (June 6).

If successful, he will become the eighth colt with an unblemished record in the past two decades to land the first Classic of the season.

Golan got the ball rolling for those with a 100 per cent record in 2001 and the latest to preserve a perfect tag was Saxon Warrior two years ago.

Five of the “Magnificent Seven” subsequently surrendered their unbeaten records with only Footstepsinthesand, who got injured, and Frankel, perhaps the greatest thoroughbred to have graced the turf, finishing their careers having never tasted defeat.

During the same period, plenty of bubbles have also been burst.

The Guineas has proved a bridge too far for several colts who had previously repelled all-comers and started at short odds.

Below, we take a look at both camps. Pinatubo is a general 10-11 favourite, indicating the bookmakers believe it is something of a toss-of-the-coin job as to which he will end up in.

GOLAN (Sir Michael Stoute - 2001)

Won a 7f maiden at Chepstow in September before, eight months later, winning the Guineas on his reappearance at 11-1 under Kieren Fallon. It was a masterful piece of training by Sir Michael Stoute. Golan went on to finish runner-up in the Derby and, overall, would win just two of his subsequent nine races.

REFUSE TO BEND (Dermot Weld – 2003)

The well-named colt obliged on both his starts as a two-year-old, including the Group One National Stakes, and he won on his return at Leopardstown before mastering 19 rivals in the Guineas under Pat Smullen at 9-2. He then went off 11-4 favourite for the Derby but trailed home well beaten.

FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND (Aidan O’Brien – 2005)

The son of Giant’s Causeway did not make his debut until October 2004 but quickly made up for lost time, winning at Naas and Leopardstown. He won the Guineas on his reappearance under Kieren Fallon at 13-2 but then, sadly, was injured and did not race again.

FRANKEL (Sir Henry Cecil – 2011)

His sparkling campaign as a two-year-old, when he won each of his four races, included emphatic victories in the Royal Lodge and Dewhurst. He easily landed the Greenham on his return and then romped home by six lengths in the Guineas at 1-2. Another eight flawless trips to the racecourse were to follow.

CAMELOT (Aidan O’Brien – 2012)

The Montjeu colt impressed on his debut at Leopardstown and then, three months later, was a convincing winner of the Group One Racing Post Trophy (now Vertem Futurity). He justified 15-8 favouritism in a soft-ground Guineas and the won the Derby and Irish equivalent before meeting defeat in the St Leger and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

DAWN APPROACH (Jim Bolger – 2013)

Like Pinatubo, he carried the colours of Godolphin and was unbeaten in six starts as a juvenile. And, similarly, he won at Royal Ascot (Coventry), National Stakes and Dewhurst. He went off 11-8 favourite for the Guineas and bolted up by five lengths before trailing home last in the Derby.

SAXON WARRIOR (Aidan O’Brien – 2018)

Won each of his three starts at two, the highlight being a game defeat of Roaring Lion in the Vertem Futurity. There was excited talk of him completing the Triple Crown after he won the Guineas on his comeback, when 3-1, but defeat in the Derby followed and he was never to win again.

GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (Aidan O’Brien – 2000)

The Ballydoyle colt landed the Group One Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp on the last of his three runs as a two-year-old and won the Group Three Gladness Stakes at the Curragh on his return in 2000. He started 7-2 favourite to preserve his unbeaten record in the Guineas but found King’s Best too strong.

DUBAWI (Saeed Bin Suroor – 2005)

Won at Goodwood, Newmarket and Curragh as a youngster, signing off with an impressive win in the National Stakes. The Godolphin colt started 11-8 favourite for the Guineas but could finish only fifth in a renewal where 100-1 chances finished second and third.

NEW APPROACH (Jim Bolger – 2008)

Jim Bolger’s Galileo colt was a perfect 5-5 as a two-year-old, capping his campaign with Group One victories in the National Stakes and Dewhurst – just like Pinatubo. He started 11-8 favourite when he returned in the Guineas but was pegged back near the finish and beaten a nose by Henrythenavigator.

ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (Aidan O’Brien – 2010)

Ended his two-year-old career unbeaten in three starts and with an official rating of 124 after successive victories in the Beresford Stakes and Racing Post. The Montjeu colt went off at Evens for the Guineas but could finish only sixth.

TORONADO (Richard Hannon – 2013)

Won each of his three starts as a juvenile, including the Champagne Stakes, and won the. Craven Stakes by four lengths on his reappearance. He went off at 11-4 for the Guineas but faded to be fourth.

TEN SOVEREIGNS (Aidan O’Brien – 2019)

He was unbeaten in three starts over six furlongs as a two-year-old, capping his campaign with victory in the Group One Middle Park Stakes. He went off 9-4 favourite for the Guineas but faded to be fifth.