Portugal Colonial - Buick motors home on Notable Speech to win first 2000 Guineas

Norway-born Buick held off a challenge from Rosallion to land the first classic of the flat season on a horse trying racing on turf for the first time.

His three previous runs and victories had been on the all-weather surface this year and the 16-1 chance became the first horse to win the race without a run at two since Pasch triumphed in 1938.

Notable Speech, whose trainer Charlie Appleby added to his victory in the 2022 renewal with Coroebus, beat home two runners trained by Richard Hannon, Rosallion and Haatem.

The major disappointment of the race was the odds on favourite City of Troy, who gave up without a fight after setting the early pace, trailing in ninth of the 11 runners.

Buick, 35, said landing the race after years of frustration meant a huge amount.

"It was an itch I definitely wanted to scratch," said Buick.

"These races are hard to win and of course they are meant to be.

"I have not known him for that long but I had an enormous amount of belief in him.

For Appleby it was reward for him deciding to go for this Guineas instead of the French version in a fortnight.

"You don't see many horses come from all weather success to Guineas success," he said.

"I am in a very privileged position to give horses time hence why I did not give him a run last year.

"It was only his last run on the all-weather that we felt he had a wow factor.

"A win in this sort of race is very important for myself and it is what the team deserve."

G.Teles--PC