2,000 Guineas: Saxon Warrior wins at Newmarket for Aidan O'Brien

Saxon Warrior (centre) holds off the opposition to maintain his 100% record in his fourth race

Aidan O'Brien won a ninth 2,000 Guineas as his son Donnacha rode Saxon Warrior to victory in the first Flat racing Classic of the season at Newmarket.

Unbeaten in his first three races, Saxon Warrior (3-1) returned after a gap of 189 days and cruised to the front from just over a furlong out.

Roger Teal's 50-1 shot Tip Two Win was a length and a half back in second with 5-2 favourite Masar third.

The previously unbeaten Elarqam, son of the legendary Frankel, finished fourth.

Although enjoying a prolific start to his stud career, Frankel, who won the 2,000 Guineas in 2011 and a record nine consecutive Group One wins in an unbeaten career, is yet to father a Classic winner in Europe.

With glorious, cloudless skies for the coveted race over the Rowley Mile, Saxon Warrior took up the running heading into the dip and never looked like being caught.

"It's very special," Donnacha O'Brien said. "Obviously, I'm winning this race and riding in big races because of the position I'm in. I'm just very grateful.

"He's a very good horse, he's a proper horse."

The O'Brien-trained fillies Happily and I Can Fly head the field for Newmarket's 1,000 Guineas at 15:35 BST on Sunday.

Analysis

BBC horse racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght

Another red letter day for the O'Brien family with Donnacha, the youngest of Aidan and Annemarie's four children, all of whom have ridden winners as jockeys, steering home Saxon Warrior to what was a comfortable success.

The colt looked as though he might still benefit from the experience, going a touch to the right and to the left while at the same time asserting his authority late on.

And perhaps we should have known. Every single one of Aidan O'Brien's now nine 2,000 Guineas winners hadn't raced - like Saxon Warrior didn't - since the previous year; his other fancied runner Gustav Klimt did have a prep race.