The 1000 Guineas looks like a choice of two evils: pick one that looks like a middle distance filly or hope that one of the juvenile sprinters gets the mile.
I am inclined to take on the favourite Quadrilateral as her Fillies’ Mile win may be the best form on offer but she looked like a middle distance filly even then and had this race been run in May it would have been considered her prep-race for the Oaks. Except for one off day, the Mile third Love has been a model of consistency, including winning the Moyglare, and it is notable that she is the only Ballydoyle representative and she has to be a danger to all, although I wonder if she too wants further than a mile now. Boomer was fifth in the Mile after being runner up in the May Hill and the trip looks her optimum.
The Cheveley Park winner Millisle looks like a through and through sprinter as does runner-up (odds-on favourite) Raffle Prize; and if the tail wind persists from Saturday, being held up to get the mile and coming from behind may be a tall order. The Cheveley Park does look the best two year old form on offer other than the Fillies’ Mile.
The Godolphin Kingman filly Summer Romance may not be one to rely upon as she promised to be a good filly on her first two starts but then showed temperament when beaten twice subsequently, finishing behind Millisle on her last start.
It is notable that twice-raced Shimmering, owned by Lord Lloyd Webber, is allowed to take her chance by John Gosden and having won over a mile we know she stays! No proof that Karl Burke’s once-raced Yes Always is not a sprinter.
In a wide open race, the three that interest me most are at big each way prices.
George Baker’s Les Hogues is a French import. If one is prepared to take a form line through three year old form, on her last juvenile start for Jean Claude Rouget, she was just beaten on heavy ground by 2020 Pouliches winner Dream And Do. The more rain the better for her, but I cannot take the form line as Dream And Do may just have improved.
It is difficult to say for certain which yards are ‘in form’ given the minimal amounts of racing we have seen, but Under The Stars comes from the James Tate yard (2 wins from 12 runners since the restart, including Far Above) and I think she can give a good account for P J McDonald today. She finished fourth in the blanket finish to the Rockfel last term but just ahead of her was thrice-raced CLOAK OF SPIRITS, Richard Hannon’s filly having disappointed when favourite for the May Hill (where Boomer finished second). With just one win from 26 runners, the yard ‘form’ does not augur well.
When I have backed Elarqam, he has disappointed so I am leaving him alone in the Brigadier Gerard – either he will bolt up or the lightly-raced Sangarius will become the latest Stoute improver with age.
