The fastest-ever Guineas, TH OSE G OLDEN OM MENTSNewmarket, April 30, 1994

As Johnston Racing enters the new decade on the crest of a wave after another record-breaking season, we are reviving our popular feature looking back at some of the highlights for the stable over the years. We begin with a reminder of Mark’s first Classic win.

ISTER BAILEYS, a colt Newbury next time out under Dean Guineas. It was presumed that Frankie by Robellino out of the McKeown, Mister Baileys landed his Dettori would again partner Mister Sharpen Up mare, first Group win when landing the Baileys, but as race day approached it Thimblerigger, was Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, emerged that he would be required to foaled on February 14, 1991. He was then a Group 3 race, at the end of July. ride the Dewhurst winner, Grand Lodge. boughtM by Paul Venner, of G R Bailey After a reverse in the Gimcrack Stakes The up-and-coming Jason Weaver took Ltd (Baileys Horse Feeds) for 10,000 at York behind Turtle Island, Mister the ride on Mister Baileys. gns as a foal. After failing to meet his Baileys reaffirmed his position as one of A field of 23 went to post for the race, reserve at the yearling sales, the colt was the leading colts of the year by winning run on ground described as good to firm. sent to Mark Johnston to train. the Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) at The ante-post favourite, Turtle Island, The horse gave notice that he was a Ascot under a confident Frankie Dettori was withdrawn on account of the firm significant talent by slamming a field of ride. surface, leaving the Racing Post Trophy maidens by seven lengths at Newcastle Over the winter, connections decided winner, King’s Theatre, as the market on his racecourse debut towards the end that the colt’s first run of his three-year- leader. King’s Theatre had also made a of June in 1993. After suffering defeat at old season would be in the 2,000 winning reappearance in the Craven

Owner Paul Venner hugs groom Gary Ritchie in the winner’s enclosure

Stakes on April 14, just holding on from short head, and in winning the Guineas the Guineas. Yet, remarkably, both Colonel Collins by a short head with he became the first classic winner Mister Baileys and Grand Lodge Grand Lodge back in sixth on that trained north of the Trent since Mrs recorded times inside Zafonic’s previous occasion. In all, six of the top 15 of the McArdy won the 1977 renewal of the record time for the race. Even more International Classifications for the 1,000 Guineas, and Middleham’s first remarkably, Mister Baileys winning time juvenile colts lined up in the Guineas. classic winner since Dante’s Derby in of 1m 35.08secs remains the fastest time This was one of those races where the 1945. ever recorded in the race, field split into two distinct groups. On It was a victory which was to prove of notwithstanding that it has been won the nearside of the Rowley Mile track, huge importance, not just to Mister since then by such legends of the turf as King’s Theatre was always prominent. Baileys’ ambitious young trainer but also Sea The Stars, Frankel (Racing TV’s Mister Baileys was one of a group of to his young jockey and to his owner, Racehorse of the Decade) and Camelot. runners who held their position towards who had turned down several offers to While it’s true that a number of factors the far side. After disputing the early sell the colt after his Royal Lodge contribute to the time achieved by the running with the complete outsider Star success. winner of a race, including the state of Mister Baileys, right, wins the Guineas under Jason Weaver Selection, Mister Baileys took a clear the going, wind direction and speed and lead three and a half furlongs from Legends quality of the opposition, it surely home. underlines the merit of Mister Baileys’ Challenged throughout the last two Timeform notes that Britain had performance that there have been 25 furlongs by Grand Lodge under a endured ‘an unusually cold, wet spring’ renewals of the race since he won it and determined Dettori drive, Mister Baileys that year, and also that the course had not one has covered the Rowley Mile ran on well to hold the challenger by a been watered earlier in the week before course in the Guineas in a faster time. 16 17