On the 4th May we have the fairer sex stepping up to the plate at Newmarket as the 3 year old fillies get the chance to strut their stuff in the 2nd Classic of the season. Also run over the 1 mile trip the 1000 Guineas is restricted to fillies only and makes up the first leg of the fillies triple crown, along with the Oaks and St Leger. Looking back at previous renewals of this race in the last 4 years we have had winners at 9/1, 25/1 and 16/1; the only winning favourite in the last 4 years came after Jacqueline's Quest, a 66/1 shot, was relegated to 2nd place after a stewards enquiry, so it may pay to look away from the market leaders. In this blog I'll have a look at the fillies that line up for this year's renewal.
Clive Brittain trains the favourite for this race in the shape of Rizeena, currently a 7/2 shot. This filly has proved her stamina for a mile and also proved a liking for this track after finishing a length behind Chriselliam over a mile back in September of last year. That form went on to receive a boost after the victor that day won at the Breeders Cup meeting, putting her in as favourite for this race. Sadly she has had to be put down since, absolutely heartbreaking for connections. Prior to that Rizeena had beaten 2nd fav in the 1000 Guineas market Tapestry over 7f in Ireland. Brittain was apparently very pleased with his filly in a piece of work, hence the decision not to use a prep run for her, so we have to take her well-being on trust. She was certainly raced plenty enough last season and did post, as previously touched on, some very smart performances. However I just feel something a bit more lightly raced could improve past her so with that in mind I'll look past the market leader in terms of an outright selection for this Classic.
Of the others at the head of the market Miss France is the one who's chances I most like for this race. She disappointed in a trial race on her seasonal reappearance but the French treat trial races as exactly that and the current price of 10/1 is very appealing considering she had been a 9/2 shot before that. The winner of the Oh So Sharp stakes over 7f at Newmarket at the back end of last year trainer Anrde Fabre won't be wasting a trip across the channel and Miss France has already proven her stamina over a mile.
Ihtimal has some very strong form over on the Tapeta surface of Meydan but may be a filly who's best will be seen over the Oaks trip given she has already won over a mile and ten furlongs. She has already been beaten by Rizeena over this course and distance 3 runs prior so is passed over. My Titania has been priced up as if she already has the form in the book to win this, which is not the case. Trained by the master trainer John Oxx her best form thus far is at Group 3 level, and while there must be plenty more to come after only three starts 8/1 is short enough. Lucky Kristale certainly has stamina to prove having done her winning last year over the 6f trip but another who I like is the Ed Dunlop trained Amazing Maria. The fact this filly handles the unique Goodwood track lends hope to the idea she will get the Newmarket dip well, she has some decent form and appears to be better at 7f than 6f so hopefully the further step up in trip off the back of a good winter will allow her to benefit from the mile test here. She was a really impressive winner of her Group 3 win last time out, winning as she liked, and has been the subject of positive reports over the winter. Ed Dunlop is no stranger to training good fillies, Snow Queen is one fine example from recent memory, and prices of 14/1 about Amazing Maria make a deal of appeal to complement 10/1 on Miss France.
Finally at a much bigger price Betimes from the John Gosden stable attracts my interest at 33/1. She is Gosden's only entry in the race and William Buick is riding, this is a trainer who rarely tries to call his ducks swans and who knows how good this filly could be off the back of one start. An easy winner of a 7f maiden at Lingfield in December she hasn't been seen since but at 33/1 the price is big enough to nibble on in the hope that Gosden knows he has a really smart one on his hands here.
1000 Guineas Selections
Main Selections Miss France and Amazing Maria
Outsider at a fancy price Betimes
Thanks for reading!
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