Speed And Stamina Blend In The Fred Darling

Further Guineas clues abound at Newbury on Saturday, with the pair of seven-furlong trials offering a springboard to next month's Newmarket and ParisLongchamp features. In time-honoured fashion, the G3 Fred Darling S. sees a high-profile sprinting filly being asked to stretch out for the first time and at this point all are in the dark as to whether Yuesheng Zhang's acquisition Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) can go the extra furlong having signed off her highly profitable juvenile campaign with a win in the G2 Lowther S. In contrasting style, Cheveley Park Stud's homebred Regal Jubilee (GB) (Frankel {GB}) drops back from a mile having taken the Listed Montrose Fillies' S. on heavy ground at Newmarket in November.

Representing the Gosdens, Regal Jubilee descends from the operation's G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Regal Rose (GB) (Danehill) who was denied a chance to tilt for the Guineas due to injury. “The stiffer seven at Newbury will suit her, the ground will certainly suit her from what we saw last autumn,” the Stud's Chris Richardson said. “I think the trip is the minimum, really, she's probably bred to be more of a mile-and-a-quarter filly. But it makes sense to go for a trial and see where we go after that. We'll take advantage of the slightly easier ground now and see what happens.”

What Next For Folgaria…

Italy's 2023 sensation Folgaria (Ire) (Due Diligence) debuts for the Marco Botti stable having shone for his brother Stefano last term. Unbeaten in five including the G3 Premio Primi Passi and G2 Premio Dormello, she is a fascinating contender dipped into British company. “She joined us about two and a half months ago, the owner decided to see what she can do abroad and it seems a good race to start her off in,” Marco commented. “The ground won't be an issue, she's been in good form and her work at home has been pleasing us. She's in the French Guineas and this will tell us a bit more about how to compare what she did in Italy to here.”

Rough Sketch In The Greenham?

Also at Newbury is the G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham S., where Lynn Turner and Guy Brook's unbeaten Listed Prix Herod scorer Zoum Zoum (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) and Victorious Racing and Fawzi Nass's G2 Coventry S. runner-up Army Ethos (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}) look the form picks. Wathnan Racing's G2 Mill Reef S. runner-up Mister Sketch (GB) (Territories {Ire}) is one of the more intriguing contenders and trainer Eve Johnson Houghton is looking to the future. “He's in great form, he's done some nice work,” she said. “He'll love better ground but I think this ground will be okay, he is a lovely horse but he's very much still a work in progress. He's improving all the time, I thought he ran really well in the Mill Reef and I think we've got a very nice horse on our hands.”