IT’S the times they are a changing on the classic front when you look at today’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket with neither a son of Galileo nor Dubawi in the line up, stamina doubts over many of the top six in the market and indeed, only one horse, Holloway Boy, is by a sire who won over a mile and a half in Europe. The traditional progression on to the Derby is likely to be the path of only Deep Impact’s son Auguste Rodin.

Similarly, although the 1000 Guineas field has two daughters of Dubawi, the principals have stamina doubts and Dandy Man, No Nay Never, Havana Grey, Sioux Nation, Zoustar feature among the pedigrees with, again, Ulysses, along with Cracksman, the only two to have won over a mile and a half.

Yet, as we go deeper into this new land, we seem to pine for the old one and look back in awe.

Aidan O’Brien has been quoted as saying Auguste Rodin is a Triple Crown horse, that feat not accomplished in 53 years. But quotes are often twisted by headline seekers.

At the Ballydoyle media morning a month or so ago, Aidan was asked about the Triple Crown, and rather than jump in instantly, he smiled, paused and said: “If we have a horse that could do that, he’s definitely the one.”

It’s not really rocket science that he might be the selected one, as a son of Deep Impact, out of a Galileo mare, when the majority of classics possibles are by sprinters or milers.

Aidan O’Brien’s comments on the two Guineas runners were: “Little Big Bear would be very comfortable to go back sprinting anytime. There is a very good chance he will get a mile – he’s very relaxed.”

Auguste Rodin: “You would imagine he would have no bother stretching out to a mile and a quarter, a mile and a half.”

Guineas trip

So we might have horses for whom the Guineas trip is too far and one for which it is too short. The O’Brien yard has been hit and miss so far, with some short-priced defeats.

Looking elsewhere, the Champagne and the Dewhurst have been traditional paths to crowning top two-year-olds and Guineas winners but Chaldean didn’t even start outright favourite for either.

Noble Style looked as though he might have a spark of brilliance last year but his long absence and lack of stable confidence is a concern. Stable companion Silver Knott looks to have a bit to find on his best form but has to be respected as the Godolphin No 1 runner.

The second string won last year, however, and, on his best form, Noble Style would be a lot shorter. His Pivotal dam was a six-furlong horse but her half-brother by Camelot stayed well. Kingman’s brilliance could compensate and, at 14 /1 on Friday, a chance is taken.

The 1000 Guineas looks an even bigger puzzle. I had thought Never Ending Story a great each-way bet at 33s but she came out yesterday. The vibes don’t seem to have been overly strong on Tahiyra (hasn’t grown) and Meditate still has a distance concern.

Remarquee looked talented in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Fred Darling Stakes) but she also looked green while Mammas Girl’s finish was impressive in the Nell Gwyn.

Based on nothing more than she looks a bit too big a price on her Lowther form, Kevin Ryan’s very well-bred Dubawi outsider Queen Me (50/1) gets the each-way vote in more hope than confidence.