3.15 Newmarket
QIPCO 1000 Guineas Stakes (British Champions Series)
(Fillies' Group 1) (Class 1) (3YO only)
Winner £213,513
Advice: 2 pts
each/way Lyric Of Light (10/1 general),
Ante Post: 1 pt Lyric Of Light to win today and the Oaks
(20/1 Stan James)
Alla Speranza: Likely to have gone unnoticed by many but her
two efforts last year aren’t looking too bad with hindsight – the well beaten
runner up from her maiden, Hail is now rated 81 – while Call To Battle ran a
great race when second to the race fit Light Heavy in the Ballysax Stakes; That
form gives his a chance if race becomes a real stamina test. 
Diala: Posted what turned out to be a very good effort when
second on debut to the Fillies Mile winner (also here) in Lyric Of Light over
7f on debut (short of a run for just a bit), and made short work of landing her
maiden In good style next time out; This her first start back but no reason why
she can’t take a hand her especially if the visual improvement shown by her at
the backend of last season was true. 
Discourse: Second string and took her time to get going but
made strong late progress to catch her stablemate Gamilati (subsequent Cherry
Hinton winner) on the post in 6f Newmarket maiden; Impressive when winning the
Sweet Solera when last seen, drawing right away from Discourse on just her
second start; Should improve again for the mile if all’s been well with her
since and can take a hand in the finish. 
Gray Pearl: Backed as if she was a good filly when winning
easily first time out at Newbury, so surprising that she was sent off 20/1 for
the Rockfel Stakes where she ran a creditable third behind Wading; That form
has taken some knocks since but could improve for it again and has to be
respected. 
Homecoming Queen: Made by front running towards the backend
of last year, winning Listed event at the Curragh with ease before finding the dirt against her liking in
the Breeders Cup; Disappointment on her seasonal debut but like many from her
yard, came on a huge amount for seasonal debut when landing Leopardstown’s
Group 3 trial for this event gamely off the front end; Dominating this field
will be far harder. 
La Collina: Defied her greenness when making an impressive
debut at Limerick and then ran a good second to Maybe at Leopardstown; Got her
own Group 1 when collaring Power late in the Pheonix Stakes, but once again
beaten by Maybe in the Moyglare and hard to see that form being reversed today.
Laugh Out Loud: In three runs this year (unraced at 2), has
proven herself to be an above average performer on the All Weather, winning by
10 lengths in maiden and then landing good conditions Stakes with Esentepe well
held in third; Mick Channon (has Nayarra in this) booked Gerald Mosse for the
ride and
Lightening Pearl: Made eye-catching headway when looking
like a sure fire winner on debut (behind a subsequent Group 3 winner) and
confirmed that when she landed a maiden at Roscommon last time by two lengths;
Third behind Maybe in Debutante before impressive Group 3 and Group 1 wins on
quick ground at the backend of last season, and while that form gives her a
solid chance, worry about her being able to show best form on this ground. 
Lily’s Angel: Raced exclusively at 5f on first 4 career
starts, going through first three races unbeaten before bumping into useful
pair in hot Beverley event; Only fifth in Albany (unsuited by the soft ground)
but right back to form in Listed event/Super Sprint and good run even when put
in her place by Discourse in Sweeet Solera; Returning third in Nell Gwyn fair
effort but that looks weak in this contest. 
Lyric Of Light: Impressive late burst when getting the
better of the impressive next time out maiden winner and reopposing Diala over
7f on July Course, and even better when winning May Hill, beating an impressive
first time out winner despite wandering around late on, and much the same story
when winning the Fillies Mile here, getting to Samitar in the nick of time
despite wandering to her right and clearly not handling the dip; Extremely
talented filly who while promising to improve for a trip, should make her
presence felt here. 
Mashoora: Useful 2 year old, following up impressive Group 3
win with second to Group 1 winner Elsuive Kate before Group 3 second at
Deauville (her only try over a mile); Career best on reappearance when eased
down to win Prix Imprudence (which has provided the winner of this twice in
recent years) and deserves a lot of respect as she’s likely to come on for
that. 
Maybe: Undisputed champion filly of last year, stepping up
in Grade on each of her 5 starts before winning Group 1 Moyglare Stakes
impressively; Also the clear form pick on that basis, given how her form has
been franked on multiple occasions (herself holds La Collina and Lightening
Pearl), and expected to stay with minimum of fuss, but only possible worry is
that this represented a step up in class once again.
Moonstone Magic: Supplemented for this after going 2-2 in
soft ground wins at Leicester and Fred Darling Stakes, impressive on both
occasions; This a far toughest test for her but probably has more to come and
any tacky ground sure to suit, so needs respecting and big each/way shout. 
Nayarra: Group 1 winner in Italy at the end of last season
and not half bad in UK either, making the frame in Group races on three or four
occasions; Comes out as the best horse in the Nell Gwyn too, giving away 3lbs
in weight to Esentepe and Lily’s Angel; Interesting on that basis although most
of her form looks very weak in this context.
Radio Gaga: Made up into a useful filly last year after
winning very useful 6f maiden at Haydock
on debut; Nursery and Listed efforts better on figures but not those races
haven’t quite worked out as one would like and well beaten by Moonstone Magic
in the end of the Fred Darling. 
Starscope: Took many eyes when winning backend maiden at
this track and once again better when coming an unlucky fourth in the Nell
Gwyn, having been blocked for a rail run at one point; Can do better than that
but form still leaves her with a lot to find. 
Sunday Times: Second in the Chevley Park to Lightening Pearl
but disappointing on all other Group efforts, notable when only fifth to Wading
in the Rockfel and once again when falling to show any of her best form in the
Nell Gwyn; 
The Fugue: Impressive when travelling much the best in
backend maiden before pulling well away from nicely bred Godolphin maiden in
her own time; Pulled away from the third by 7 lengths with the easily beaten
second and bred to make a three year old (who would excel at middle distances
if pedigree’s anything to go by) and has to be notable that she’s the pick of
Buick here today.
VERDICT: A strong renewal with no less than four Group 1
winners in attendance in what promises to be a good year for 3 year old fillies
across the world. The ground’s not overly testing, but it’s likely to take some
getting unless drying out rapidly. As with yesterday’s 2,000 Guineas there’s a
hot Ballydoyle trained favourite in Maybe, and her credentials are pretty
flawless given that she’s won on all ground and has already beaten two Group 1
winners in just 5 starts. She’s short enough now at 6/4 and faces her toughest
test in terms of quality yet, with Goldophin fillies Discourse and LYRIC OF LIGHT
capable of serving it upto her. Discourse should enjoy a mile if all’s gone
well with her since the Sweet Solera Stakes but Fankie Dettori’s charge can
travel just as well and quickened up smartly despite not handling the dip in
the Fillies Mile; The worry is that she has a little bit of a quirk, but she
should surely have something to chase here before the end her extra stamina she
surely has is likely make a difference.
Those looking for another each/way alternative could do worse than to
take a good look at either Moonstone Magic, an impressive winner of the Fred
Darling, or Mashoora, who impressed throughought the Prix Imprudence, while
Diala could also take a hand a at a generous price; But an even better chance could be Jim Bolger's Alla Speranza, already tipped by Pricewise but still as big as 33/1.
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