By Daithi Harvey
A deeper field of 18 fillies stand their ground for the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday. The John Gosden pair of Daban (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Dabyah (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}), both owned by Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah and both winners of their respective group trials at Newmarket and Newbury recently are still engaged, although Gosden has already stated his preference of rerouting Dabyah to run in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in France the following weekend. Current favourite Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) beat stable-mate Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Fillies Mile last year and both look set to take part with other Ballydoyle hopefuls Roly Poly (War Front), Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Rain Goddess (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also left in.
O'Brien is happy with the condition of the favourite and said, “Rhododendron is a clear winded, good moving filly with a good mind. She has done well physically since last year and we're happy with her.”
Intricately (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) gave Joseph O'Brien a breakthrough Group 1 victory as a trainer last year in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and she could be his first runner in a Classic on Sunday.
Like the 2000 Guineas, Frankel (GB) could have two to represent him in Fair Eva (GB) and Queen Kindly (GB). Roger Charlton's Fair Eva has not run since finishing second to Spain Burg (Fr) (Sageburg {Ire}) in the G2 Shadwell Rockfel S. at Newmarket last year while the Richard Fahey trained Queen Kindly needs to improve on her first outing this year when fifth to Dabyah in the G3 Dubai Duty Free S. at Newbury Apr. 22. Also left in is the William Haggas trained Sea Of Grace (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) who looked like she would come forward from her fifth to Daban in the G3 Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket while Hugo Palmer's Unforgetable Filly (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}) and Andrew Balding's Poet's Vanity (GB) (Poets Voice {GB}), who finished second and third in the Nell Gwyn are also likely starters.
Other fillies still engaged in the Newmarket Classic are: Ce La Vie (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), Dream Start (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Kilmah (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}), Shadwell's Talaayeb (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Urban Fox (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}).
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