Poetic Flare sprung a 2000 Guineas surprise to land the opening Classic of the season at Newmarket.
Partnered by 54-year-old Kevin Manning, the Jim Bolger’s colt edged out Master Of The Seas and William Buick in a thrilling finish to score at 16/1, with the Jessica Harrington-trained Lucky Vega in third.
Handy throughout as Naval Crown set a very stiff gallop, the winner found himself right in the firing line with a furlong to run.
Master Of The Seas had made eyecatching progress under Buick and the pair of them set down to battle it out. It came down to a matter of who had their head down right on the line as they flashed by together, with the Irish raider getting the verdict by a short head and a neck.
None of Aidan O’Brien’s trio were ever involved, while Thunder Moon was among the first beaten.
Manning told ITV Racing: “It’s a great training performance.
“He’s done nothing wrong all along this horse, he was impressive in his trial at Leopardstown and he’d come forward from that. I really fancied him.
“He’s just a proper horse. I really thought whatever beat him might win.”
