Champion British Flat trainer Richard Hannon has won many big races in his life but one glaring omission from his otherwise impressive CV is the lack of a fillies’ classic victory, something he will be hoping to put right at Newmarket on Sunday in the Qipco 1000 Guineas where he intends saddling both Sky Lantern and Maureen in what promises to be a cracking contest.
The mile event looks set to be a tremendous race with Sir Henry Cecil’s unbeaten Hot Snap (11/4 in the horse racing betting) heading the market ahead of another unbeaten filly, Group 2 Rockfel Stakes winner Just The Judge, trained by Charles Hills. Hannon has high hopes for both his candidates but it does appears significant that stable jockey Richard Hughes has opted to partner last year’s Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Sky Lantern (11/1) who was giving 3lbs to Hot Snap when just over two-lengths behind the current market leader on their respective seasonal reappearances at Newmarket last month in the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes.
Off level weights, Sky Lantern – who was expected to come on for the run – may get closer to Cecil’s rising star. Maureen (14/1 in the current racing betting odds, click here for more prices) was beaten just a neck by Ireland’s Sendmylovetorose in the Group 2 Cherry Hinton Stakes at HQ last summer but soon found the winning touch when landing the Group 3 Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes at Ascot in July.
Repeatedly denied a clear run when unplaced in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in October, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor showed she had trained-on well when landing the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury last month and will be partnered by the top-class Olivier Peslier, who reportedly expects his mount to go very well indeed.