Stabled next to the box where Kind (Ire) (Danehill) resided at Roger Charlton's Beckhampton yard, Fair Eva (GB) brings with her a sense of destiny as she becomes the latest to assume the mantle as the delegate for Frankel (GB) in Sunday's G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Her early juvenile form places her here as a legitimate contender, with a dismissal of the subsequent G3 Sweet Solera S. winner Nations Alexander (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and the listed-winning and group-placed Miss Infinity (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) on debut at Haydock in June followed by a four-length rout of the eventual G3 Prestige S. scorer Kilmah (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}) in Ascot's G3 Princess Margaret S. the following month. Short-priced favourite for this Classic as a consequence, the Juddmonte homebred was only third as the 4-11 favourite behind fellow daughter of Frankel in Queen Kindly (GB) in the G2 Lowther S. at York in August before failing again at 4-9 when second to Spain Burg (Fr) (Sageburg {Ire}) in the G2 Rockfel S. over seven here in September.
Given his integral part in the Frankel story, as he steered the headstrong Kind through her racing career which was highlighted by two listed successes, Roger Charlton would be a welcome beneficiary of the former Cecil colossus's genetic generosity. He remains perplexed by Fair Eva's drop-off of form in the autumn, but is keeping typically cool as he prepares the daughter of the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine African Rose (GB) (Observatory) for this test. “She was very impressive in the Princess Margaret and at that stage it looked pretty good,” he said. “In the Lowther she never really got into it, but York can be like that. I was disappointed in the Rockfel as her work had been good and the form book suggested she should win. She never actually looked like winning, but there were no excuses. She did grow, though, and maybe she shouldn't have run, maybe it was one race too many, we just don't know. We know that her form lines are good enough and I just didn't think she needed to do a trial to prove or not prove, so we have to wait for the big day. We need a Classic winner here. To be fair, we haven't had that many runners in either Guineas but we've got a chance this year and we're doing everything to make sure all the I's are dotted.”
Fair Eva's Lowther conqueror Queen Kindly also failed to add further lustre to her record in the autumn when only fourth in the G1 Cheveley Park S. here in September. Her staying-on fifth behind Dabyah (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}) in the G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury on Apr. 22 suggests she will get this trip as it looked likely her second dam Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge) would before injury struck in 2002. Her dam Lady of the Desert (Rahy) was at her best over five and six furlongs but was not all speed, as she was sixth before being promoted to fifth in a bunch finish to the 2010 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. “There's only one Guineas, so we're going to give it a go and see what happens,” trainer Richard Fahey commented. “We are very comfortable and very happy with her. She's got a lot of speed and if she stays she'll be very good.”
With just a maiden win to her name, 'TDN Rising Star' Talaayeb (GB) (Dansili {GB}) has the look of a Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway), who belied inexperience to secure this prize for the Barry Hills stable in 2009. That training great's former understudy Owen Burrows went close to 2000 Guineas glory with the runner-up Massaat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) 12 months ago and the Kingwood House resident has maximum confidence in the ability of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's impressive course winner. Out of the G1 Epsom Oaks third Rumoush (Rahy), who was also seventh in this Classic in 2010, she looked to be of the required calibre when powering to success over seven furlongs here in September. “She was an exciting prospect even before she got to the racecourse, though I must admit I was slightly surprised when she won her maiden at quite how well she did it,” Burrows said. “I couldn't tell you what her best trip will be until we see more of her on the track and she is entered in both the English and Irish Oaks as well as the Ribblesdale. She does not look slow and has got gears, but she is bred to get a bit further than a mile. Fast ground will be perfect for her, so I am chuffed to bits that is what we seem likely to get on Saturday.”
Two fillies trading at large odds who carry significant weight on the formbook are the G3 Nell Gwyn S. runner-up and third Unforgetable Filly (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}) and Poet's Vanity (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}), respectively. The former's trainer Hugo Palmer said, “She's in great form and considering she only has three-quarters of a length to find with the third favourite, I think she has a solid each-way chance at 25-1. I think there'll be many more behind her than in front of her and I expect the mile to suit her really well, the faster the ground the better.” Andrew Balding said of Poet's Vanity, who had previously won this track's G3 Oh So Sharp S. in October, “I'm very happy with her. I thought she ran a very good race in the Nell Gwyn. There's even more depth to this race, but it was a significant trial, she wasn't far away then and I'm hoping with that run under her belt she can go well on Sunday.”
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