Guide to the leading QIPCO 1000 Guineas Contenders

Minding wins the Dubai Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. Image courtesy of Racingfotos.com.

MINDING
Form: 21211-
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
General odds: 6-4
Relished the combination of a mile and easy going when surging clear in the group one Dubai Fillies’ Mile over course and distance on her final start last year, a performance which led to her being crowned Europe’s champion two-year-old filly. She had previously worn down Ballydoyle, her stablemate, close home on a similar surface in the Moyglare Stud Stakes. A previous defeat at the hands of Ballydoyle, on faster going, raises a question as to whether she needs some give underfoot to be seen at her best, although that reverse could be attributed to immaturity.

LUMIERE
Form: 121-
Trainer: Mark Johnston
Odds: 4-1
Grey created a stir when routing her rivals in a maiden at the July meeting and dug deep to land the group one Connolly Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes back at Headquarters in late September from solid yardsticks in Illuminate, Besharah and Alice Springs (about a length covered the quartet). In between, she found Besharah too strong on softish going in the Pinsent Masons Lowther Stakes. Open to further progress and, a half-sister to a 1m4f winner, is entitled to stay farther than 6f, for all that pace looked her principal weapon last year.

BALLYDOYLE
Form: 421121-
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Odds: 6-1
Indicated she was going to make her mark at the highest level when narrowly failing to peg back Suits You in the Chesham at Royal Ascot. Duly went one better next time on Newmarket’s July Course before beating Minding two lengths in pattern company at the Curragh (7f) in August. Edged out by the same rival in the Moyglare over the same course and distance next time (softer going) and signed off her season with victory in the group one Prix Marcel Boussac back on faster ground at Longchamp. Usually ridden from the front, or up with the pace.

NATHRA
Form: 112-1
Trainer: John Gosden
Odds: 10-1
Won the Nell Gwyn Stakes with something to spare on her return at Newmarket this month but had been no match for Minding in the Fillies’ Mile at Headquarters last autumn. Lacked the winner’s finishing power that day but she beat the rest well enough. Had looked useful before that when winning at Salisbury and Newbury (over 7f on both occasions). Yet to race on fast ground.

ILLUMINATE
Form: 11126-
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Odds: 14-1
Excelled in the first half of last season, winning the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in smooth style before following up, narrowly from Besharah, in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at the July meeting. Absent for 11 weeks and had her unbeaten record punctured by Lumiere in the Cheveley Park Stakes (match fitness put forward as an excuse) before failing to give her true running at the Breeders’ Cup. Her quality not in doubt, but stamina a possible issue.

TURRET ROCKS
Form: 13412-
Trainer: Jim Bolger
Odds: 16-1
Progressive last term, stamina looking her forte when landing the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster in September. Upped her game further when chasing home Ballydoyle at Longchamp next time and that puts her in the picture, for all that she might do even better when going up in distance.

ALICE SPRINGS
Form: 1253412-3
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Odds: 25-1
Pedigree suggests middle-distances will bring out the best in her (sister of smart 1m4f performer Criteria), so a couple of her narrow defeat last year need marking up. Finished on the heels of Minding and Ballydoyle in the Moyglare Stakes and, not surprisingly, was doing her best work late on when a close fourth in the Cheveley Park Stakes. Easily won a valuable sales’ race back at Newmarket and looked unlucky not to win at the Breeders’ Cup on her final outing. Below-par at Leopardstown but can be excused that on account of heavy going.

THE REMAINDER
Are all available at 28-1 or bigger. The pick of them looks the Brian Meehan-trained BLUE BAYOU, unable to make an impact when fifth in the Moyglare Stakes (behind Minding and Ballydoyle) but possibly not suited by the softish going that day. She had previously swooped from off the pace to land the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket, having previously been a fast-finishing third to Illuminate and Besharah (beaten a nose and a short head) in the Duchess of Cambridge. That puts her in the mix. JET SETTING has been supplemented after wins on heavy ground at Cork and Leopardstown this year but probably needs mud to show her best.