Hot Snap stamps herself a filly of the highest class

Hot Snap runs out a ready winner of the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes from favoirite Sky Lantern. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Hot Snap, owned, trained and ridden by the same team as the mighty Frankel, maintained her unbeaten record in some style this afternoon when comfortably defeating the well fancied Sky Lantern in the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile.

The 200th running of the QIPCO 1000 Guineas back on the Rowley Mile two weeks on Sunday now beckons.

A half sister to the brilliant mare Midday, who retired at the end of the 2011 season after winning six races at the highest Group 1 level, Hot Snap had only won a lowly Kempton maiden prior to today’s second run.

She looked inexperienced in the early part of the race when last and having to be cajoled along at one stage.

However, she soon got the hang of things, following Sky Lantern through and hitting the front just inside the final furlong.

She easily came clear to win by two and a quarter lengths from Sky Lantern, who was conceding three pounds to her, with the rest of the field well spaced out behind.

She looks a class act, but whether Cecil will want to run her again in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas so quickly remains to be seen. The master trainer often likes to give inexperienced fillies more time.

He said after the race: "She’s not there yet. She wants a mile and I expect her to come on for that.

"She could possibly be a Guineas filly. Otherwise she will be a nice one for Royal Ascot.

"She has only been on the grass once this year and the idea was to give her a bit of time to find her feet.

"She is coming on and will be much better in three weeks’ time."

Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdulla, said: "I would think if Henry’s happy we will have to give the Guineas some proper consideration."