Heartache for Master Of The Seas in 2,000 Guineas thriller

Master Of The Seas missed out on Classic glory by the narrowest of margins as he was just denied by Poetic Flare in a head-bobbing climax to the mile G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, UK, on Saturday, 1 May.

One of three Dubawi colts in the field for Charlie Appleby, Master Of The Seas (William Buick) was held up towards the rear of the 14-strong field as stablemate Naval Crown (Adam Kirby) cut out the running, with One Ruler (James Doyle) racing in third.

Master Of The Seas started to make headway down the far rail at the halfway point and moved up powerfully to press Naval Crown a furlong and a half out, together with Poetic Flare and Lucky Vega.

Naval Crown battled away but could not go on with his three rivals inside the final furlong as Master Of The Seas and Poetic Flare duelled for the lead all the way to the line.

Both horses hit the line in unison, with Poetic Flare, a son of the 2013 2,000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach, getting the verdict by a short-head in a photo finish.

Lucky Vega took third, a neck further in arrears, with a further two and a half lengths back to Naval Crown in fourth. One Ruler kept on to come home sixth on his seasonal return, beaten five lengths in total.

Charlie Appleby said: “Master Of The Seas has run a great race and backed up his performance in the Craven Stakes. He has travelled very well through the race before picking up nicely up the hill, but full credit to the winner.

“We will see how he comes out of this and discuss where to go next but the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot looks an obvious target.

“I was confident that Naval Crown would run a big race back over a mile and I am delighted with his effort. James Doyle felt that One Ruler might be better over further and with a bit more ease in the ground, so he could be a potential Derby horse.”