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10 Mar 2017

10 of the best: QIPCO 1000 Guineas

Bosra Sham - 1000 Guineas

Bosra Sham overcame injury to land the 1000 Guineas. Picture: racingfotos.com

The first fillies’ Classic of the season takes place on Sunday May 7th this year with the QIPCO 1000 Guineas.

The race was last year won by Minding who went on to have a superb season, but she joins a roll of honour which features some of the greatest fillies of all time.

Can Rhododendron, Fair Eva or Queen Kindly step up to the plate this year? They’ll have to be very good to gatecrash this list!

Want to win hospitality tickets for the luxurious Winning Post Enclosure? Enter our competition to be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets.

1902 – SCEPTRE

Trainer: Bob Sievier
Jockey: Herbert Randall
Owner: Bob Sievier

The only horse in history to win four Classics, Sceptre gained her 1,000 Guineas triumph two days after winning the 2,000 Guineas; then landed the Oaks while most were still debating her unlucky fourth in the Derby (left at the start). St Leger glory followed, but only after running twice at both Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood beforehand.

1904 – PRETTY POLLY

Trainer: Peter Gilpin
Jockey: Willie Lane
Owner: Eustace Loder

Unbeaten in nine starts as a two-year-old, she won her Guineas by three lengths in a record time, having started 1-4 favourite. Further victories followed that season in the Oaks, Coronation Stakes, Nassau Stakes, St Leger and Park Hill Stakes. By the time she was retired, as a five-year-old, she had won 22 of her 24 races. Went on to make a great impact as a broodmare.

1942 – SUN CHARIOT

Trainer: Gordon Richards
Jockey: Fred Darling
Owner: HM King George VI

A leading two-year-old who carried the royal colours to victory in the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and St Leger.  She completed her classic treble at the expense of Watling Street, the Derby winner. Beaten just once in her nine races, when she was betrayed by her quirky nature.

1955 – MELD

Trainer: Cecil Boyd-Rochfort
Jockey: Harry Carr
Owner: Lady Zia Wernher

The bay was an emphatic winner of the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks but had less than a length to spare when landing the St Leger at the expense of the Lester Piggott-ridden Nucleus. Piggott objected but Meld kept the spoils. Meld, beaten just once in six starts, went on to prove a success at stud – her offspring including Charlottown, the Derby winner.

1959 – PETIT ETOILE

Trainer: Noel Murless
Jockey: Doug Smith
Owner: Prince Aly Khan

Grey thrived as a three-year-old, winning all of her six races. Kept on stoutly to win the Guineas by a length at 8-1, then followed up easily in the Oaks under Lester Piggott at 11-2.

Capped a superb campaign with further victories in the Sussex Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks and Champion Stakes. As an older horse, she twice won the Coronation Cup.

1984 – PEBBLES

Trainer: Clive Brittain
Jockey: Philip Robinson
Owner: Marcos Lemos

Nervy type but stacks of ability, as she showed when surging a three-length victory in the Guineas at 8-1. With a little help from her friend (a gelding called Come On The Blues frequently accompanied her), Pebbles went on to become the first filly to win the Eclipse; then made history again by becoming the first British-trained horse to win at the Breeders’ Cup, when successful in the Turf.

1985 – OH SO SHARP

Trainer: Henry Cecil
Jockey: Steve Cauthen
Owner: Sheikh Mohammed

Unbeaten in three starts at two, she snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the Guineas – winning by two short heads from Al Bahathri and Bella Colora in a record time.  Followed up in the Oaks by six lengths and went on to land the St Leger, in the process becoming the first filly since Meld, 30 years earlier, to win the fillies’ Triple Crown.

1987 – MIESQUE

Trainer: Francois Boutin
Jockey: Freddy Head
Owner: Stavros Niarchos

Became the first filly for 40 years to win the Guineas and its French equivalent. Won ten races at the top flight, overall, and created history with her back-to-back Breeders’ Cup triumphs before being a success as a broodmare. At Newmarket, she justified favouritism by producing a tremendous burst inside the final furlong to beat Milligram by a length and a half.

1996 – BOSRA SHAM

Trainer: Sir Henry Cecil
Jockey: Pat Eddery
Owner: Wafic Said

Unbeaten in the build-up to the Guineas but had to work hard to justify odds-on favouritism after suffering a bruised foot in the build-up. Came off second best against Markofesteem in a tremendous Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot (the winner formed part of Frankie Dettori’s magnificent seven) but confirmed her brilliance with a decisive defeat of Halling in the Champion Stakes three weeks later.

2016 – MINDING

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Owner: Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor

A dual Group 1 winner as a juvenile, Minding was sent off 11-10 favourite to beat her 15 rivals and her backers never had a moment’s concern. Never far away, she floated through the race under Ryan Moore and quickened clear to beat stablemates Ballydoyle and Alice Springs in emphatic fashion. Four more wins at the highest level followed and she remains in training this year.