French 1,000 Guineas 2010

1.35 Longchamp
Poule D'Essai Des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) (Group 1) (3YO only)
Winner €290,557

Pick: Joanna (win), Lilliside (e/w)

Lady Of The Desert: Was arguably the top 2 year old filly for most of last season, with wins in the Lowther and Princess Margaret Stakes, both in impressive style; Had Flying Childers and Newbury Listed winner Sand Vixen in behind when winning the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot; Ran well in Cheveley Park stakes but weakened markedly late on and same story in Fred Darling Stakes; Connections put that down to fitness but still has to prove she stays; If she does, potentially one of best in race.

Full Steam: Impressive when drawing away nicely to win Prix De Parie (Conditions Stakes) at Chantilly last time; Obvious she has to step up markedly on that to take a hand but comes from top stable who must think lot of her.

Special Duty: Boasts high class 2 year old form, where she won the Chevley Park Stakes in good style, to add to her Prix Robert Papin win and excellent Prix Morny second; Needed the run on ground too soft on her reappearance run and proved so when landing 1,000 Guineas in Stewards room; That run probably gives more questions than answers but has confirmed herself high class milling filly in doing so; Wide draw gives problems but will be on premises.

Rosanara: Showed immense promise when landing debut race and then Marcel Boussac in good style, although disappointing when beaten into third on final start in Gran Criterium (soft ground not suit); Although she will improve for her reappearance run there is no doubt that it was a disappointing effort and needs improving on.

Joanna: Gritty winner of 7 furlong Deauville Group 3, following on from her Italian Listed win in similar style, and ran big race to be third in Marcel Boussac (behind Rosanara);Leaped into picture for big fillies races this season when getting better of Special Duty in Prix Imprudence; Handled soft ground but fair win otherwise and should go close again.

Lilliside: Got up in good style to win Prix La Camargo last time and the performances of the runners p have been good for a race of that level, with the second winning a Group 3 from the Boussac second (On Verra) and the third actually beating Rosananara; Clearly not one to be underestimated although she will need to handle better ground.

Dolled Up: Ran some terrific races last season but shown no evidence of training on (for all that she will have needed the run) when ninth in Prix La Grotte last time and seemed not to stay.

Barouda: Managed to get better of Ayun Tara in useful Group 3 last backend and is better than her seventh suggests in Prix La Grotte (got no run and was actually staying on well) so no forlorn hope for all she still has a lot to improve.

Ayun Tara: Behind Barouda when runner-up in Group 3 company over this trip on turf in France last October, and ran a big race in UAE 1,000 Guineas on seasonal considering she was never that far away from the strong pace; Will have improved but may not have improved past Barouda or enough to take this.

Baine: Improved for step up from 2 year old to 3 and smart effort to get better of American Nizzy in listed event; Still has to do a lot on that form and in twilight zone between not being exposed, but having had a few runs and not setting world alight.

VERDICT: it’s likely to be a close renewal of this classic. Many people put JOANNA’S win in the Prix Imprudence down to Special Duty not being wound up enough but she will have come on massively for the run and it’s hard not to see her going close at least over the mile. Special Duty posed more questions than answers when being all out to beat t four rank outsiders on the heavily favoured stands´ side that day, and a wide draw just doesn’t help her chances here. Rosanara was scintillatingly impressive in the Macrcel Boussac and had her excuses in the Criterium later on in the year, but was very disappointing last time and will need more. Lady Of The Desert isn’t far away from being the best horse in the race if staying, and LILLISIDE appeals most of the outsiders and gets the e/w vote.