Who holds the course record for the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas?

The 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas, both run over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket Racecourse in late April or early May, are the first two Classics of the season. The 2,000 Guineas, which was inaugurated in 1809, is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, while the 1,000 Guineas, which was inaugurated in 1814, is restricted to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies.

Unsurprisingly, as far as the fastest winning times are concerned, there is only half a second to choose between the two races. Interestingly, though, granted that fillies are officially considered 3lb inferior to colts – at least, that is the weight-for-sex allowance they receive in the 2,000 Guineas – it is the 1,000 Guineas that has produced the fastest winning time. That time, 1 minute and 34.22 seconds, was recorded by the Giants Causeway filly Ghanaati, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by his son, Richard, who beat 13 opponents on good to firm going in 2009.

The fastest winning time in the 2,000 Guineas, 1 minute and 34.72 seconds, was also recorded on good to firm going, but much more recently; in fact, by the most recent winner, Kameko, trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Oisin Murphy, in 2020.