Sunday brings the Guineas Festival to a close on the third and final day, with the focus today on the girls. The 1000 Guineas takes centre stage on a racecard of seven races, with many races seeing debutants or lightly raced horses it is not an easily-predictable day, so a steady day would be advisable. That being said, here’s my thoughts and predictions for each of the races:
Race 1: Oliver Brown Pretty Polly Stakes 1m2f (13:45 – 3yo Class 1, Listed)
The day kicks off in style with a Class 1 Listed race for the Fillies. Most of this seven-runner field is lightly race, with the market currently headed by SACRED GROUND, running for the Gosdens who have a strong record in this race, and this one holds an Oaks entry. There is clearly plenty to like with this one as she already has a win and course experience from her first two career runs. That being said, preference here is for LILT, who also holds an Oaks entry and one for the Coronation Stakes. She won on debut at Doncaster and looks to be one full of potential. Third choice is ESNA, who is arguably the form pick, having beaten an opponent who went on to win a Stakes race, although all three races so far have come on soft ground and there’s no telling how she’ll fair on quicker ground.
Prediction: 1st LILT 3/1, 2nd SACRED GROUND 15/8F, 3rd ESNA 7/2
Race 2: Betfred Dahlia Stakes 1m1f (14:20 – 4yo+ Class 1 Group 2)
The second Class 1 race of the day sees a Group contest made up of eleven runners, currently headed by two in the market, one of which is SURVIE, who has plenty of Group 1 experience across the globe under her belt at the age of five, and if she can bring her best here she may be the one to beat. Second choice is CATHEDRAL, who has actually already beaten Survie in her career, last time out on the all-weather at Kempton. It is likely she will enjoy the quicker ground. The other market favourite is FALAKEYAH, who is certainly well fancied in this one who won her first two races before disappointing in the following two efforts, clearly a class horse there but form at the end of last season was well below par.
Prediction: 1st SURVIE 9/2JF, 2nd CATHEDRAL 5/1, 3rd FALAKEYAH 9/2JF
Race 3: Betfred Handicap 1m6f (14:55 – 4yo+ Class 2)
A twelve strong field will compete in this one, and YASHIN looks great value at a bigger price here, who started last year with a bang when winning a Class 1 contest at Ascot, ad if a break has done him as well this time around, he might just have a say. Preference, however, is for SUBSEQUENT who olds an Ascot Gold Cup entry, and is five from eleven on turf including Listed success. Third choice is MANY MEN, who showed great improvement last year scoring three wins, and has won on this course before that, also has the benefit of already having a cobweb-shaking run this season.
Prediction: 1st SUBSEQUENT 6/1, 2nd YASHIN 16/1, 3rd MANY MEN 11/2
Race 4: Betfred 1000 Guineas Stakes 1m (15:35 – 3yo Class 1, Group 1)
The feature race of the day involves a massive 19-runner field, with the clear favourite in the market belonging to Ballydoyle and PRECISE, who already has a Group 1 success over course and distance to her name and has already beat rivals she will face again here, and Aidan O’Brien has won this race seven times. Second favourite VENETIAN SUN was unbeaten after four runs before running into Precise at Curragh at the end of last season, and she has tasted victory on Newmarket’s July course. One at a bigger price is THE PRETTIEST STAR, who takes a step up in trip here but this would likely not be an issue, definitely potential with this one.
Prediction: 1st PRECISE 15/8F, 2nd VENETIAN SUN 6/1, 3rd THE PRETTIEST STAR 12/1
Race 5: Tatterstalls £40,000 EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes 5f (16:10 – 2yo Class 2)
This one is for the rookie sprinters, with six of the eight entries expected to debut their careers here. One that we have seen before is current market favourite CALL ME TOMORROW, who finished runner-up over course and distance a little over two weeks ago, and that experience could prove crucial here. Debutant EFSIXTEEN who was bought initially for 135,000gns, before being sold around a year later for 350,000gns, which certainly shows the high hopes there is for this one, and her pedigree also looks very encouraging. Fellow debutant CROWNBREAKER who was purchased for 550,000gns also looks good on paper. As ever with debutant races, the market will play a big tell in the lead up to the off.
Prediction: 1st CALL ME TOMORROW 6/4F, 2nd EFSIXTEEN 7/2, 3rd CROWNBREAKER 9/2
Race 6: Tatterstakks Online £40,000 EBF Novice Stakes 5f (16:45 – 2yo Class 2)
Now for the boys to have their sprint, with again many of these set to debutise. JAAN KI TURKI was a bit too keen on debut at Newbury and ran out of steam at the crucial stage, but if he learns his lesson from that, then the signs are encouraging for a horse who would appear to have some serious speed. That one finished just ahead of NAPA who was sent off favourite in that race and was perhaps a little unlucky in that one. The most exciting of the debutants looks to be current market favourite THE DANCING PIRATE.
Prediction: 1st JAAN KI TURKI 10/3, 2nd THE DANCING PIRATE 11/4F, 3rd NAPA 7/2
Race 7: HKJC World Pool Handicap 1m2f (17:20 – 3yo Class 3)
The final race of the day and indeed the Guineas Festival sees just five entries, headed in the market by Godolphin’s STUDY OF WORDS who already has a course and distance win to his name, alongside a Derby entry shows the hopes for this one are sky high, looks a worthy favourite. SAHARA KING can’t be discounted though, having won on debut last season and having run once already this season. Third choice is EVANESCO, who ran a solid race on reappearance over course and distance last month, and will be looking to build on that performance.
Prediction: 1st STUDY OF WORDS 11/8F, 2nd SAHARA KING 11/4, 3rd EVANESCO 4/1