Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) Fillies: Possible Entries

With the conclusion of the Flat turf season, it's time to assess the very best fillies in training. For leading horse trainers, the 203^rd running of the 1000 Guineas brings warm comfort on many a cold winter morn.

On 1^st May 2016, Newmarket will crown a superstar filly.

What better time to consider the possible entrants for this historic race. This Group 1 Flat horse race is open to three-year-old fillies run on the Rowley Mile over the distance of one mile. This second of five Classic races was first run in 1814 taking its name from the prize money afforded to its winner (1,000 Guineas). The inaugural winner – Charlotte – was trained by Tom Perren, ridden by Bill Clift.

Take a moment to review these outstanding record holders which – for the most part – display a very historic flavour:

The leading jockey with seven winners is George Fordham: Mayonaise (1859) – Hauteur (1883).

The leading trainer with nine wins, Robert Robson: Connie (1818) – Arab (1827).

The 4^th Duke of Grafton is the leading owner with eight wins: Catgut (1819) – Arab (1827).

Other points of interest:

• Fastest winning time – Ghanaati (2009) 1m 34:22s
• Widest winning margin – Mayonaise (1859), 20-lengths
• Longest winning odds – Ferry (1918) 50/1
• Shortest winning odds – Crucifix (1840) 1/10
• Most runners – 29 (1926)
• Fewest runners – 1 (walkover) 1825

Last year saw Legatissoimo prove victorious, trained by David Watchman, ridden by Ryan Moore for Messrs Magnier, Tabor & Smith.

At present we are talking possible entrants of this 2016 contest, detailed via the Racing Post:

Alice Springs – A P O'Brien

Ballydoyle - A P O'Brien

Beautiful Morning – L uca Cumani

Besharah - William Haggas

Blue Bayou - Brian Meehan

Coolmore - A P O'Brien

Fireglow - Mark Johnston

Hawksmoor - Hugo Palmer

How High The Moon – A P O'Brien

Illuminate - Richard Hannon

Katie's Diamond - K R Burke

Lumiere - Mark Johnston

Minding - A P O'Brien

Most Beautiful - David Watchman

Now Or Never - M D O'Callaghan

Tanaza - D K Weld

BetVictor anti post betting: 11/4 Minding, 4/1 Ballydoyle, 7/1 Lumiere, 16 Besharah, 20/1 Illuminate, 20/1 Alice Springs, 25/1 Tanaza. For a full list of prices take a moment to visit BetVitcor.

It will be interesting to see which horses go straight for this race, making their three-year-old debut or contest the Nell Gwyn Stakes or Fred Darling Stakes trials.

A fascinating race. Anti-post betting can give an equal measure of value and disappointment but for many punters. However, this is often a great time to place bets if you hold a strong opinion.

4:20 York Racing Tips (21st Aug) BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF CONVIVIAL MAIDEN STAKES (Plus 10 Race) (CLASS 2) (2yo)

Sadly not enough time to write a substantial post for this excellent race but a few pointers. Firstly, look at the price money for this maiden. Win price money of £31,125. Astounding. Worth more than most Listed races. The form of this 7f contest will produce many future winners and many will contest Group races. 

Last year's contest was won by White Lake, a debutante trained by Luca Cumani. A race that was far from a vintage renewal and this gelding proved slightly disappointing although competing at pattern class. 

I sense this contest will detail a winner of greater class.  

Brian Meehan said he was ''very confident'' about the chances of Perkunas. I've rarely heard him talk about a horse in such terms. 

Very Talented ran well on debut at Goodwood and it held in high regard by Godolphin and Saeed Bin Suroor. Definitely worth noting.  

Luca Cumani rates Beautiful Morning. This beautifully bred filly cost 650,000. This daughter of Galileo ran well on debut when fourth and sure to improve. 

Never easy for a debutante to shine on debut especially against proven, experienced juvenile but I'm very interested in Click And Roll for David Brown. This bay filly sired by Candian Smart Strike out of an unraced mare. A half-sister to Hootenanny this March foal has clearly been catching pigeons on the gallops.Qatar Racing Ltd have a wealth of two-year-olds and it it intriguing this filly is their sole representative. Brown can go well with his debutantes and I would expect a bold show. 

Conclusion: A maiden of maidens - class horses vying for a prize that makes trainers, pundits and racegoers look twice. Plenty of winners will come from this contest which displays a field of potentially smart two-year-olds. Very Talented and Perkunas are worthy of note, with valuable race experience and lofty plans. The former, especially so. Beautiful Morning is bred to be a specimen and could go well for connections. Many debutantes catch the eye but Click And Roll is a horse I have mentioned a number of times before and excited to see take part. David Brown can ready a juvenile making its racecourse bow and this filly will need to be street-wise today. All noted have fair win and place claims. 

Friday Racing Tips (17th July)

A busy day so not so much time to give an in depth review but a couple of races worth noting. 

2:40 Haydock - Quite a sizable field and a few juveniles which have run well or have something of a reputation. Edification is on a recover mission after a disappointing effort at Windsor. Blinkers first time bring concern. Laughton has been given a Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) entry for Kevin Ryan. This son of Acclamation was purchased privately for 8,000euro and recently sold at the breeze-up sales for 150,000euor. Fancied in the betting which brings encouragement. Karl Burke is a class trainer and Wayward Hoof could go well. This son of Equiano was purchased by the trainer at the yearling sales for 40,000GNS. It is worth noting this bay colt was fielded at Stakes class on debut and backed. He showed ability against more experienced/talented rivals but far from disgraced. He is another horse to hold a Gimcrack entry and only one of two for the stable.     

6:15 Newmarket - No strong views here but just wanted to give Luca Cumani's two-year-old debutante a mention. Beautiful Morning is a daughter of Galileo  out of a debut-winning mare who was Listed placed and Group raced. This bay filly cost a whopping 650,000GNS at the yearling sales. She runs under the ownership of Jon S Kelly. 

6:30 Pontefract - Mark Tompkins isn't the first trainer who springs to mind with talented two-year-olds but Jack Carter showed promise when making his debut at Leicester over 6f. This son of Medicean wasn't fancied in the betting but showed good pace, traveling with menace until fading in the final furlong. This January foal touched short odds in-running and his trainer spoke well of this youngster detailing that he would improve for that first start. The betting is important and if priced 13/2 & less SP I would consider this chestnut colt to hold strong each-way claims. If outside this betting guide, I would take a watching brief. Flying Pursuit is getting his act together and is another horse who must have respectable win and place hopes.