2 very good fillies fighting out the 1000Gns. First run as a 3yo for the fav. Trainer had openly stated beforehand the race came 2 weeks too early. I reckon the placings will be reversed next time. Difficult to tell but it looks as though that was a very fast time in the ground. Even more difficult to compare the 2 days but that was 3.72secs faster than the colts
Very impressive by Via Sistina. Fast time in the ground, despite being eased, with Spencer repeatedly looking round to see where they all were. Was this a freak one off performance or has she really progressed a lot? The way she won I think she will take some beating at this distance on a similar surface. This was not a group race but, with conditions in her favour, I will be surprised if she couldn't make her presence felt in group company
Just a few notes re yesterday's 1,000. Mawj's success yesterday now means that 14 out of the last 18 winners, of the 1,000 Guineas, had already run at Newmarket. Mawj's dam has deffo delivered these past couple of terms. Mawj following on from the year older Modern Games (French 2,000 Guineas winner amongst 4 Group/Grade 1 wins for the old boy). Who will be her Classic rep (if any) amongst the 'Class of 2024'??? The result does lead to many ponderables with the front 2 finishing way clear of the 3rd and to a lesser degree the 3rd finishing comfortably clear of the rest. Are the front 2 exceptional??? Are the front 3 to be Followed with a capital 'F'??? Or are the remainder mere trees and therefore the front 2 (or even front 3) were massively flattered??? Something to mull over, team...
The 1,000 was run 3.02 seconds faster than the 1 mile 3YO handicap run 70 minutes after the Classic. Plus Mawj carried 5 lbs more than the victor of the handicap (Saxon King).
Looking at the time of the G2 9f race for mares and fillies (won by Via Sistina) I would think they are 2 very good fillies. The Irish 1000 Gns and/or the Coronation should remove any doubt as to who may be the better. They aren't entered against older fillies/mares that I can see, which would be interesting
I think the first two are very talented fillies. The result may be different between them on better ground, but it is going to takea good filly to beat either of them over a mile. Certainly a clearer picture with the fillies..
It was interesting that Adele Mulrennen picked both the Guineas winners out on how they looked on the day.
Timeform comment on Via Sistina "Perhaps the most visually striking performance on Sunday's card came from Via Sistina123 from 114), who looks ready for a step up to the top level such was the level of form she showed when adding her name to the roll of honour for the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes. The official winning margin was six lengths and it’s possible to make the case that she was value for even more having barely come off the bridle in seeing off a whole host of smart rivals, impressively quickening clear after being produced to lead over two furlongs out. Via Sistina had taken her form up a notch in two starts for George Boughey (formerly trained by Joseph Tuite) towards the end of last year, but this was on a different level altogether, putting up the best performance in this race’s history and kicking off what promises to be a successful five-year-old campaign. Group 1 assignments surely await and just a repeat of this form will ensure that she continues to take all the beating against her own sex. For context, Via Sistina is now rated above the likes of Emily Upjohn (120) and Nashwa (119), both of whom have been kept in training having been among the best three-year-old fillies around over middle-distances in 2022.
