3.15 Newmarket
Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes (Fillies' Group 1) (Class 1) (3YO
only)
Winner £213,739
Pick: Moonlight Cloud (win) & Misty For Me (each/way)
Barefoot Lady: Came right away on debut despite needing
plenty of stoking and achieved a lot more when winning at St Ledger festival next,
doing job just as nicely, and not disgraced when third and second in
Group/Listed contests at backend of last year; Feisty winner of Nell Gwyn on
return and while she merits place in field (supplemented) this much harder.
Blue Bunting: Shaped really well when runner-up on debut on
the July Course behind Theyskens Theory (who has gone on to win a Group 3 and
come third in the Fillies’ Mile); Pulled clear with subsequent winner when
going one better following month and showed good attitude when winning listed
contest here; Change in ground is question mark but is fairly priced.
Cape Dollar: Showed plenty of promise on her debut when
third at Newmarket and took major steps forward with every run, improving from
her Goodwood third (soft) to take the Rockfel on her final start; Disappointed
on her comeback although she had valid excuses (seasonal debut, trip, track
postion/draw) and harder to fancy.
Elshabakiya: One of race’s strongest form contenders going
down by only a length to Maqaasid on debut, then Crying Lightening next time
out; Only went down by a neck to Dubawi Gold on seasonal reappearance but well
behind principals in Nell Gwyn and unlikely to feature.
Empowering: Made steady progression thoughought last year
and kept on from where she left off when making all to land 1,000 Guineas trial
at Leopardstown latest; Had plenty in had form a useful yardstick and vibes
suggests she’s a good horse, so not without consideration.
Havant: Impressive maiden debut winner and bolted up in Oh
So Sharp Stakes, travelling like winner from some way out and shooting clear of
field; Both those starts on soft ground but doesn’t particularly shape as if
she needs cut & sire has 14% winners/to runners ratio on good – to firm;
Step up to mile needed and could be special.
Hooray: One of best two year olds of last season, winning
Lowther, Sirenia & Cheveley Park Stakes with ease from the front; Has some
of the best form claims if she trains on but bigger problem may be step up to a
mile.
I Love Me: Made a mark as a potential group horse when coming
right away to win big sales race on debut and unable to handle softer ground
when fifth next time; Running down Cape Dollar at finish of Rockfel (saw lots
of daylight) and can do better again this year although form of that race been
let down since.
Immortal Verse: Impressive winner of debut conditions race
at Deauville and best of rest behind key player Helleborine in Prix D’Amule; Given
way that race has worked out, disappointing on return and likely to need
further; Ground this fast a problem.
Laughing Lashes: Progressed with every run as a juvenile,
showing plenty of talent when runner-up in maiden at the Curragh, Group 3 at
Leopardstown, and in Moyglare; Did get better of Misty For Me in Debuante and
entitled to be there at finish.
Make A Dance: Comfortable maiden winner here at the backend
of last year, shaping as if she was very much a three – year old and set for much
bigger and better things this year; Can and will do better but this a better race
on faster ground and lot to prove.
Maqaasid: Showed immense promise on debut and realized that
very quickly when winning Queen Mary Stakes in course record time, but failed
to build on that when failing to stay in both the Lowther and Chevley Park
Stakes; Stamina no problem when making good return (would have been better for
a mile) under penalty and likely to show up well, win, lose or draw.
Memory: Seemed set to be champion juvenile for most of last
season, beating quality Albany field and overcoming adverse passage to take
Cherry Hinton Stakes with ease; Disappointment in Moygalre Stakes (never really
in it) but if that run forgiven huge player and lot of strong signals form in
form yard (stamina assured by trainer jockey).
Misty For Me: Hugely progressive through last year, stepping
off maiden win to come second in Debutante and reversing form with Laughing
Lashes to grab all the way win in Moyglare Stakes; Surpassed that when
outbattling Helleborine to win Marcel Boussac and big player today with
attitude and versatility to stand her in good stead.
Moonlight Cloud: Winner on debut at Deauville by two and a
half lengths, and further confirmed her class when gliding into the lead to
romp away with conditions event by six lengths; Thrown in at deep end when
admirable effort to come fourth to Wotton Bassett in Prix Jean Luc and only
getting better based on impressive win over Helleborine in Prix Imprudence, and
can only step forward from that.
Nova Hawk: Steadily progressive as a juvenile, coming runner
up in pair of listed races at backend of last year; Impressive winner of Prix
La Camargo but that form needs improving on and has to show she handles quicker
ground.
Show Rainbow: Took four tries to break duck last year,
having seemingly ‘spurted’ two chances before coming right away from field on
heavy in October; Ran a good race in Nell Gwyn but the winner (Barefoot Lady)
& third (Maqaasaid) were going away at the finish and promise to be better
over today’s trip of a mile.
The Shrew: Decent juvenile (won and second once, disappointed
final run) and ready winner of a 1m AW handicap last month and can go on again
form that, but not in this company.
Together: One of most consistent fillies of last year,
following Moyglare fourth with Fillies Mile second; Would have won sales race
here but for hanging and unable to cope with tight track in Breeders Cup
Juvenile Turf; Disappointed on face of it in seasonal return, and while drop
back to a mile and clearer run ought to suit (will be fitter now as well), hasn’t
got the finish in her for a classic.
VERDICT: Many have expressed concerns over the ground for
Havant but a mile on this surface promises to suit her. The result of the 2,000
Guineas yesterday proved how important being race – fit is in these events and
MOONLIGHT CLOUD, so promising when fourth behind the top colts in the Prix Jean
Luc and so impressive when putting away Helleborine in the Prix Imprudence, can
take the biggest step of all and land what looks like a cracking renewal.
Marcel Boussac/Moyglare winner Misty For Me is feared most, and looks a value
each/way alternative to confirm her superiority over Laughing Lashes, and
Memory, who is much better than she showed at the Curragh but still short for
one that was so well beaten. Hooray has
some of the best form but how she’ll do over a mile in a much better race
remains to be seen. I Love Me is best of the remainder.
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