The second fastest ever run G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) happened today when the all the way winner Ugo Foscolo ran his rivals into oxygen deprivation and made them crack under the will to keep competing pain threshold. Ugo Foscolo bounced to the lead from the outset and kept the pace sustained and solid so nothing got any semblance of a breather including himself of course. The tactic worked as so many runners could not handle the mile or the pressure and most were in reverse near the home turn or soon after turning in. The gelding had slipped well clear at the 200m and the rest were wobbling around under pressure chasing in vain with many runners stopping or down to a walk. He scored by by a length and a quarter in 1:33.81 and only the winner last year Xtravagant has gone quicker in 1:33.59, with that colt tellingly since showing he is only competitive in New Zealand. Ugo Foscolo after today now has the record of five wins from six starts and importantly he has led up for three of those successes. He now has a G1, G2 and Listed win on his record. Savile Row ran home gamely for second and has a good future for one so lightly tried, as he may well be a Derby type. Heroic Valour was a sound third beaten just over two lengths and ran much better than his stablemate that the first choice rider from this yard incorrectly went for. Cha Siu Bao ran on well and has a good future even if beaten five and a half lengths. Wyndspelle ran on for fifth albeit beaten seven and a half lengths while Mongolian Falcon the favourite was a poor sixth beaten over nine lengths. He sat outside the winner and either did not stretch out on the firm footing or the mile found him out but either way the colt was very below par though since a bone chip on the knee has been discovered as a reason. The rest came home beaten almost thirteen lengths and up to almost forty lengths. Forgive the lightly tried Jon Snow as he had a horror run wide fourth or fifth and should never ever have been ridden out of the gates to go forward as whatever speed or tempo map used was flawed beyond belief. The lead and outside the lead was always going to be the Ugo Foscolo and Mongolian Falcon so getting over or in was never a possibility and Jon Snow was under the whip before the home turn. Hall Of Fame was dreadful for a second favourite and after sitting third across the top was in reverse the run home to be beaten twenty-five lengths. The speed of the race and firmer footing plus raceday pressure all combined to melt so many of these 3yos today chasing G1 glory. It was the ultimate test and many got found out badly and will sleep well needing a break in many cases. The winner Ugo Foscolo is by the sire doing the South Island proud in Zacinto and now with a fast G1 mile win he should be set for life. Kudos to Ugo Foscolo as he applied a blowtorch that welded his rivals to the ground yet he just kept running. The G1 2000 Guinea has become a leaders race in recent years and that fact alone should sway or dissuade many owners or trainers regarding finding the right type to chase this event in the future.