Little-known French trainer Mikel Delzangles and his unconsidered Makfi swept aside the superpowers of Britain and Ireland to cause a 33-1 upset in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.Aidan O'Brien fielded red-hot favourite St Nicholas Abbey, Godolphin were armed with a two-strong challenge and John Dunlop sent out Elusive Pimpernel to complete his Classic set - but all were eclipsed by the raider from France.Few ride the Rowley Mile as well as Christophe Lemaire and he tracked Johnny Murtagh on even-

Little-known French trainer Mikel Delzangles and his unconsidered Makfi swept aside the superpowers of Britain and Ireland to cause a 33-1 upset in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Aidan O'Brien fielded red-hot favourite St Nicholas Abbey, Godolphin were armed with a two-strong challenge and John Dunlop sent out Elusive Pimpernel to complete his Classic set - but all were eclipsed by the raider from France.

Few ride the Rowley Mile as well as Christophe Lemaire and he tracked Johnny Murtagh on even-money market leader St Nicholas Abbey until the heavyweight punches were thrown.

As the Racing Post Trophy winner started to show signs of distress, Lemaire made his move on the son of Dubawi and his mount shot through between runners heading out of the dip to take issue entering the final furlong (200m).

He had little trouble passing Dick Turpin in the straight to beat him by a length and a quarter with Canford Cliffs a half-length adrift in third.

Xtension took fourth with Craven Stakes winner Elusive Pimpernel fifth and St Nicholas Abbey a one-paced sixth.

The win was a first Classic for 39-year-old Delzangles who started training in 2001 and captured the 2005 King's Stand Stakes at York with Chineur.

His colt was discarded by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell operation after spending his juvenile career unraced with Marcus Tregoning, changing hands for 26,000 guineas ($A45,131) last autumn before winning his debut in France a month later.

He returned this spring to land the Prix Djebel and was the biggest-priced 2000 Guineas winner since Henry Cecil's fellow 33-1 shot Bolkonski in 1975.

Delzangles, a former assistant to Alain de Royer-Dupre and Jimmy Fitzgerald, said the Guineas was always the lofty ambition.

"It's amazing," Delzangles said. "We were waiting for the Djebel to see what happened, but we already had an idea we might come here.

"He is a very quiet and well-behaved horse and he can quicken.

"We weren't really worried about the ground and he's proved he's a very good horse.

"I hoped he would run very well as he was in great form and won his trial. There was no reason why he wouldn't run well. He could have been fifth but he has won."

While the thoughts of connections of St Nicholas Abbey may be turning towards the Derby, Delzangles is eyeing a return to England dressed in Royal Ascot finery.

"Maybe now we'll come back for the St James's Palace Stakes," he said.

"The French Guineas is a possibility but it's only two weeks away and he's only run three times, so maybe we'll come back for Royal Ascot."

Lemaire is fast becoming the man to follow at Newmarket having won the likes of the 1000 Guineas, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Cheveley Park and Champion Stakes on the Rowley Mile.

"I cannot explain why I have had such big success at the track," Lemaire said.

"With the crowd you always get an atmosphere and to win a Classic at Newmarket is incredible.

"He had won a Group Three in France. It was a top-class race so I was confident and there is such history here.

"I have been lucky on the track and lucky to ride such good horses here.

"It is the birth place of horseracing so this is something special."