The best and worst of the weekend's racing

Performance of the week

It paid to keep things simple and go with the tried and tested in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas as Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore came up trumps again with Churchill.

Spectacular it might not have been, but there was something ruthlessly efficient in both the ride given by Ryan Moore and the way the champion juvenile went about his business in a messy race.

Barney Roy and Al Wukair were closing at the line but the race had long been settled and the signs are ominous for the Classic generation as there is every reason to believe Churchill, who sweated up freely before the race, will come on leaps and bounds for the first start of his campaign.

O'Brien had added incentive to cherish another top-flight success as he became the winningmost trainer in 2,000 Guineas history with an eighth success in the Newmarket showpiece.

Disappointment of the week

After Thunder Snow made the bold transition from soft-ground Group 1 winner in Europe to live outsider in the Kentucky Derby, it was hugely anti-climactic to see his race end almost before it started.

In what was an eventful start to the Kentucky Derby, Thunder Snow seemed to stumble, then bucked and kicked his way through the first furlong before being pulled up by Christophe Soumillon.

Fortunately, he was not found to have any injuries by racecourse vets afterwards and on Sunday evening it was reported as "just one of those things" by Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson.

There was not to be such a positive ending for last year's Ebor winner Heartbreak City, fatally injured on a racecourse gallop at the Curragh on Saturday, and Hong Kong star Rapper Dragon, who suffered a similar fate in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday. Thoughts are with the connections of both horses.

Picture of the week

Two horses at Jessica Harrington's Commonstown Stables head out to the gallops on ThursdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Video of the week

A kangaroo (dubbed 'Skippy', of course) tried to join in the last race at Cessnock in New South Wales, narrowly avoiding a collision with the runners. He looks nimble enough to take his chance at Chester next week.

Quotes of the week

"He's not Frankel, but he's a good horse."
Churchill's part-owner Michael Tabor after the colt beat a 2,000 Guineas field including two sons of Frankel.

"She's a filly though, so she'll be remembered for her best performances, unlike colts who are remembered for their worst, and so we can be brave."
Trainer Sir Mark Prescott after Marsha's success in the Palace House Stakes on Saturday.

"We've been together for all these years and this is sweet."
Todd Pletcher after Always Dreaming delivered a first Kentucky Derby for him and long-time stable jockey John Velazquez. Both men had won the race before separately.