Kentucky-based trainer Kenny McPeek could take a shot at becoming the first-ever American winner of the G1 1000 Guineas after nominating his Dothraki Queen (Pure Prize) to the Newmarket fillies' Classic set for May 1.
Dothraki Queen broke her maiden on the grass at first asking at Ellis Park in July before winning the GII Pocahontas S. on the dirt, and was second in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She was last seen finishing fourth in the GII Golden Rod S. Nov. 28.
“To win the QIPCO 1000 Guineas would be beyond special and Dothraki Queen has already shown enough class to justify giving it a shot,” said McPeek. “She's won a Grade II race and been runner-up in a Grade I, so a win at the top level has to be her goal and going for the Guineas followed by the Epsom Oaks looks like a good option.”
McPeek has come close to tasting success in Britain before, with the 2004 G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. runner-up Hard Buck and two Royal Ascot placegetters.
“People don't know that I have been taking horses to England since long before Wesley Ward began to do so and almost every one of my runners there has pleased me,” McPeek explained. “I think that English racing is very special. I have always been attracted to the history of the sport–and it is a life goal of mine to win an English Classic. Dothraki Queen has done most of her racing on dirt but she won her maiden by seven lengths on grass and the way that she moves, together with the number of top turf horses on the dam's side of her pedigree, mean that I believe that her career is best served as a grass horse.”
He added, “She shouldn't have any trouble handling the conditions at the Rowley Mile as I have my own grass gallops on my farm in Kentucky that are a bit like Warren Hill in Newmarket.”
McPeek explained Dothraki Queen is currently training in Arkansas.
“She has had three workouts at Oaklawn Park and is about a month off her first run of the season. After that we will make a final decision about shipping her over,” he said.
Dothraki Queen is one of 63 initial entries for the 1000 Guineas, and those also include the European champion 2-year-old filly Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and stablemates Coolmore (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}); G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Lumiere (GB) (Shamardal); G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. winner Illuminate (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and multiple group winner Besharah (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).
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