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3 Jan 2019

New Kids On The Champions Series Block: Fairyland

Fairyland and Donnacha O’Brien after combining to win the Cheveley Park Stakes, with owner Evie Stockwell on the right. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Horse: FAIRYLAND

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Form: 11311

It says much for the open look of this year’s QIPCO 1000 Guineas that the bookmakers are betting 10/1 the field.

Fairyland is a general 14/1, although she would be considerably shorter if her stamina for a mile could be assured.

What we do know, for certain, is that she has bags of ability, is versatile regards the ground (she has won on going ranging between good to firm to soft), has an excellent attitude and is at home racing at Newmarket.

Fairyland proved the last point when driven out to beat The Mackem Bullet by a neck on her final start of the year, in the Group 1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes, having previously beaten the same rival by a nose in the Group 2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York.

She had begun the year with wins at Naas and the Curragh, the latter in Listed company, with her only defeat of the campaign coming when a close third in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The daughter of Kodiac’s pedigree is all about speed and, as such, she is no bigger than 12/1 for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

But her connections will no doubt explore her stamina reserves in the spring to see if she could make into a Classic-winning filly.

Fairyland is part-owned by Evie Stockwell, the 93-year-old mother of Coolmore supremo John Magnier, and was bred by her daughter, Anne O’Callaghan, of Tally Ho Stud.

Evie said after the Cheveley Park she had never enjoyed a race more and was joined on the winner’s podium by her twin sister, Lady Mimi Manton.

Fairytale stuff. And there could be more to come.