All the potential major players have been left in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas on Sunday. Aidan O'Brien also supplies the favourite for this race in last year's impressive G1 Dubai Fillies Mile winner Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and she is likely to be joined by stablemates Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who emerged victorious in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf runner-up Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
“The plan is for Minding, Ballydoyle and Alice Springs all to run in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas,” said Coolmore representative Kevin Buckley at a Newmarket press conference Monday morning. “Minding has had a very straightforward preparation. It has all gone well for her over the winter and she did a very nice piece of work on Saturday. It is a fair point to suggest that, on form, there is not too much between Minding and Ballydoyle. But Minding has already won over the full Guineas course and distance and, from the chat I'm hearing, she would be the better of the pair.”
Added Buckley, “Alice Springs found the ground too soft at Leopardstown [when third to 1000 Guineas supplementary entry Jet Setting (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) in the G3 1000 Guineas Trial Apr. 10], but Aidan wanted to get a run into her. Aidan's horses are more forward this year than sometimes, which bodes well for the coming weekend.”
Mark Johnston has huge confidence in his G1 Cheveley Park S. victress Lumiere (GB) (Shamardal), who is closely matched on juvenile form with Richard Hannon's Illuminate (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who was runner-up that day and also scored in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. last July.
Brian Meehan also has great faith in his challenger Blue Bayou (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), described by the trainer as one of the best fillies he has trained and a forward winner of the G3 Sweet Solera S. at Newmarket in August.
Offered Meehan, “Blue Bayou is in perfect condition for this time of year. [When Newbury's Fred Darling S. was abandoned] I wasn't desperate to get a run into her, so I just took her over to Richard Hannon's polytrack for a change of scenery and she went very well. She will stay a mile fine as she is relaxed and switches off, but I don't think she will get any further. If the track remains as it is now, that will be perfect for her.”
Jim Bolger has left in his Turret Rocks (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), last seen finishing second to Ballydoyle in the G1 Total Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp and the trainer was highly complimentary about this filly.
“If she improves as her pedigree suggests she might, she doesn't have to progress much to be up there with the best of them,” said Bolger. “I think she will be competitive in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, but the further she goes, the better she'll be, and she should really come into her own over middle distance. I like her a lot.”
Nathra (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) is one of the few acceptors that we have seen in competitive action this year and she proved her well-being with a fluent win over Squash (GB) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}) in the G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket Apr. 12, with fellow 1000 Guineas confirmation Mix And Mingle (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) back in fourth.
“Mix And Mingle is the best filly that we have had for quite a long time,” commented trainer Chris Wall. “The soft ground didn't help her in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S., but she has come out of that run fine and did a nice piece of work yesterday [Sunday]. Good ground would be okay, but any slower and I would have second thoughts about running her. She needs to have everything in her favour if she is to have a chance of making an impact.”
The other confirmations for the May 1 1000 Guineas as of Monday, Apr. 25 are: Aljazzi (GB) (Shamardal), Ashadihan (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), Epsom Icon (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}), Fireglow (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), Midweek (GB) (Motivator {GB}), Robanne (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), and Sharja Queen (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).
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