This year's 2000 Guineas looks shaped already, with the Appleby and O'Brien guns loaded with two barrels each, but there is always an opening for the winner of Saturday's G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham S. at Newbury.
Whatever its impact on the Newmarket Classic, the latest renewal of the seven-furlong trial is fascinating in its own right, with Marc Chan's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) taking on Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}). Throw in Al Shaqab Racing's G2 July S. and G2 Gimcrack S. winner Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and this represents a proper test for the fast milers who barely get the eighth furlong. Perfect Power is interesting on running style and pedigree, as his strongest work always came at the end of the six last year and he hails from a family replete with stamina harking back to Sagamix (Fr).
“What we saw last year and the pedigree on the dam's side gives us hope that he'll get this seven furlongs,” trainer Richard Fahey said. “He's also a very laid-back character. He doesn't go around the yard like a typical sprinter and he's quite relaxed and a straightforward type to ride, so he'll give himself every chance to get seven furlongs. We haven't drawn a line through the Guineas yet and we're just going to see what happens on Saturday.”
Paris Calling?
The card's G3 Dubai Duty Free S., or Fred Darling as it is historically known, offers perhaps more intrigue in terms of its relevance to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches than the 1000 Guineas, but it may be that it serves to enhance the claims of those at the forefront of the upcoming Newmarket Classic.
Godolphin's season could hardly have got off to a brighter start and the dominance could well continue with Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}), whose defeat of Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in Woodbine's GI Natalma S. continues to grow in gravitas. That she was only fifth behind Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile means that whatever the outcome here, Charlie Appleby is looking more at ParisLongchamp.
“Wild Beauty's preparation has gone well and the track at Newbury will suit her better than the Rowley Mile,” he said. “We feel that she didn't particularly handle the course in the [G1] Fillies' Mile and are looking at using this as a springboard to the French 1000 Guineas.”
Harry and Roger Charlton's daughter of Thistle Bird (GB) (Selkirk) was deadly on soft in the course-and-distance Listed Radley S., while the Gosdens throw in Shadwell's Yarmouth mile novice scorer Shaara (GB) (Shamardal). Interestingly, the senior member of the partnership was happy to pitch the dam Yasmeen (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) into the 2015 G1 Coronation S. at an early stage of her career, so we watch with interest.
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