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30 Jan 2017

Champions Series dark horses: Poet’s Vanity

Poet's Vanity

Poet’s Vanity puts her stamp on proceedings at Newmarket. Picture: FocusOnRacing.com

POET’S VANITY

Trainer: Andrew Balding
Form: 411

Poet’s Vanity already has a Group 3 win to her name but is among the 20-1 chances for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas.

Classic ambitions looked fanciful after Poet’s Vanity faded to finish fourth behind the Charlie Appleby-trained Wuheida, who was also making her debut, in a 7f maiden at Newmarket in August. That was no ordinary newcomers event, though, with the winner scoring in Group 1 company in France on her next start.

Poet’s Vanity looked a completely different proposition at Salisbury a month later – making all for an impressive ten-length win.

Andrew Balding then stepped her up to the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes, back at Newmarket, and despite racing a bit keenly – the front-running tactics were ditched – she kept on well to score by a length from the consistent Glitter Girl.

Balding’s post-race comments were revealing. “I haven’t got any better among the fillies,” he said. “I had to work her with a colt last week because she was demoralising our other fillies.”

He has suggested she could run in the Guineas without a prep race beforehand.

She has size/scope and the fact that she coped well with demands of the Rowley Mile course in the autumn also has to be a plus.

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