Jim Bolger knows all there is to know about producing a Classic contender at a peak, and the master of Coolcullen is back at Newmarket on Sunday with a live hope for the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas in Godolphin's Lucida (Ire) (Shamardal). Runner-up to Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. over seven furlongs at The Curragh in mid-September, the bay was here 12 days later to outbattle Fadhayyil (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) in the G2 Rockwell S. over that trip. Only fifth when encountering rain-softened ground in the G1 Fillies' Mile over this course and distance in October, she is certain to appreciate the return to this lively surface.
“The Fillies' Mile was her only disappointing run last season,” jockey Kevin Manning told PA Sport. “You'd have to put it down to the ground; we did anyway. She was very impressive in beating Fadhayyil before that in the Rockfel. That day she was going away at the line and it looked like a mile would suit her, and she had no problems with the track. On that performance I wouldn't be worried about her over a mile. She's been working very well at home, we've been very pleased with her, and didn't feel that she needed to run in a trial. Jim tends to send one straight there if he thinks they are good enough.”
Not Over For Hills…
Barry Hills staged a return to training in the sad circumstances of the death of his son, John, and a win for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Fadhayyil would provoke an emotional outpouring for one of racing's most famous families. Still raw when second in the Rockwell, she has been at Newmarket for a racecourse gallop as Hills' 2009 winner Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) did.
“Her form is there for all to see and we thought at the time she probably should have won the Rockfel,” Angus Gold, the owner's racing manager, told PA Sport. “We felt she probably just pulled herself up in front through inexperience and Lucida, who has more experience and is a good filly, came and beat her. She had a gallop the other day and I know everyone in Lambourn is very pleased with her. Hopefully she's improved and we'll see what we can do.”
Right Start…
Ralph Beckett has already made a name for himself as a trainer of fillies thanks to his two Epsom Oaks winners, but in Redstart (GB) (Cockney Rebel {Ire}) he has a speedier proposition than the norm for the stable. Coming off a Kempton maiden win in November to outpoint Jellicle Ball (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury Apr. 18, the bay has one of the most progressive and unexposed profiles in an open-looking assembly for the 202nd renewal of this Classic. Another who fits that bill is Rick Barnes' unbeaten Irish Rookie (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), who was two-for-two last term when scoring at 50-1 on debut and taking the Listed Montrose S. over this trip at the start of November. Trainer Martyn Meade is understandably wearing an air of confidence.
“She is in very good form and I'm pleased with the way she is shaping up,” he explained. “She took quite a long time to come to herself early on last year and it wasn't until August that she started to shine a little bit. She was a leggy filly and that was the reason we left her until October, and although I thought initially about putting her away when she won first time out, she actually blossomed for that. She coped with the track really well and traveled well in the Montrose and although good-to-soft ground was perfect for her on that occasion, I think she'll cope with the faster ground and I don't have a worry about that. She is really looking more and more like a proper racehorse and she's done nothing wrong. I have to be pretty optimistic, even though it's a huge ask.”
Two More For Coolmore…
In the absence of a leading contender from Ballydoyle, David Wachman is double-handed representing Coolmore with Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Queen Nefertiti (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The former sprang to prominence when winning Sunday's Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park and will be staying on when the sprinting types flounder. 'TDN Rising Star' Queen Nefertiti has improvement to find on the form of her return third in a mile conditions event on Dundalk's Polytrack Apr. 24, but she showed striking class when successful on debut over seven furlongs at Leopardstown last June and demands respect. “Legatissimo won well last week. She's come out of the race fine and seems in good form so we'll give it a go,” Wachman told PA Sport. “Queen Nefertiti ran just a few days before; she'd just started back, really, but she ran a nice little race and should come on for it.”
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