G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas

Like Saturday's 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) introduced on the all-weather during the winter, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's blueblood Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) arrived late on the scene to emerge triumphant in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas and cause a second weekend surprise in Newmarket's mile Classics. Coming off her debut success at Southwell in late November to finish a staying-on third in the seven-furlong G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury last month, the Roger Varian-trained daughter of the G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Flower Bowl...

Even if Saturday's Newmarket Classic had a major twist in store, it was all about one horse beforehand whereas Sunday's G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas is open season especially given the way the Spring has gone for the Classic fillies. How will the likes of TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) have fared during the wet and cold weeks leading up to this test? Many starlets have come here in the past with impeccable form credentials only to be lost in...

Juvenile group 1 winners Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) head a field of 16 fillies for Sunday's G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang, winner of the course-and-distance G1 Fillies' Mile, will be the sole representative for Ballydoyle and is drawn 12 next to Godolphin's G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner and G3 Nell Gwyn S. runner-up Dance Sequence (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in 13, while Clipper Logistics' G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Fallen Angel...

The G3 Ballylinch Stud 'Priory Belle' 1,000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown on Sunday, April 7, has been identified as a likely starting point for Porta Fortuna (Ire) as she prepares to embark on her three-year-old campaign. Trained by Donnacha O'Brien, Porta Fortuna proved herself a high-class juvenile in 2023 when her high-profile victories included the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot and G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket. She was last seen filling the runner-up spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. All roads...

Group 1 winner Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) has exited her strong second-place effort in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas in good order, according to trainer Dermot Weld. His Highness The Aga Khan's homebred pushed Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) all the way to the line in a fierce stretch duel at Newmarket, only to lose out by a half-length. Plans for last year's G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine are fluid at the moment, but the May 28 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas is under consideration. "She's come out of her...

Frankie's farewell 2000 Guineas was followed 24 hours later by Oisin Murphy and Saeed bin Suroor's comeback 1000 Guineas victory as Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}--Modern Ideals {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) prevailed in a thrilling TDN Rising Star tussle with Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the QIPCO-sponsored Newmarket Classic. In front of the group racing up the centre from the outset, Godolphin's half-sister to last year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was joined by The Aga Khan's 6-4 favourite heading into the...

Saturday's dour weather at Newmarket means that only the tough need apply in Sunday's G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas. A preference for testing ground is a must and so TDN Rising Star Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) seems in pole position given how electric she was on it when dealing with Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh in September. Dermot Weld resisted the temptation to come here with Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) 12 months ago, despite the fact that she could have ended...

by Heather Anderson & Brian Sheerin    Will His Highness The Aga Khan's explosive G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Tahiyra build on her brilliance from last autumn, or will the Coolmore partners' Meditate consolidate her Breeders' Cup victory in Classic fashion? An even score of fillies test their mettle on the Rowley Mile, and with the changeable weather, it is anyone's guess who will emerge triumphant.   CAERNARFON (GB), Cityscape (GB)--Royal Ffanci (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) Owner: Hunscote Stud, P Humphreys & J Sweeney Breeder: Hunscote Stud Trainer: Jack Channon...

Saturday's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas asks the usual set of questions, with the Classic generation due to be examined for the first time with their raw material and any flaws about to be exposed on Newmarket's Rowley Mile which was the scene of thundery conditions on Friday afternoon. Aside from the ever-present quandary of pace positioning and ground conditions, with the latter scenario complicated by the sight of looming dense clouds on Guineas eve, there is the annual unknown of just how dominant last year's leading 2-year-olds still are. Will...

Last term's undefeated G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) heads a confirmed cast of 20 after final declarations for Sunday's G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas were made Friday morning. The Dermot Weld trainee has been allocated gate 15 for the one-mile feature. She will be reopposed by Moyglare runner-up and G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), Aidan O'Brien's lone representative, who is drawn in stall eight. Godolphin's trio of contenders includes Saeed bin Suroor trainee and 'TDN Rising...

Juddmonte filly Juliet Sierra (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) will not proceed to Sunday's G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas over Newmarket's Rowley Mile, according to trainer Ralph Beckett. The winner of the G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. at Salisbury last autumn, the homebred ran fifth in the G1 Cheveley Park S. at the end of September. "We have decided not to run Juliet Sierra in the Guineas, as we feel she needs a little more time," said Beckett, who will still field Cheveley Park heroine Lezoo (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) and Remarquee (GB)...

Group 2 winner Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is in good order ahead of an intended start in the May 7 G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, according to Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor. A winner of the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. and third in the G1 Cheveley Park S. at two, the bay won both the Jumeirah Fillies Classic and Jumeirah Fillies Guineas conditions races at Meydan over the winter. Bin Suroor said, "She is good, has been working well and in good form. She will run in the...