The QIPCO 1000 Guineas is the first fillies’ Classic of the season and takes place on the Rowley Mile on Sunday 2nd May, 24 hours after the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. It is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series. There are 63 entries in 2021.
Current ante-post favourite is Pretty Gorgeous, already a Group One winner on the Rowley Mile having landed the bet365 Fillies’ Mile in October.
Her trainer Joseph O’Brien reported: “She is obviously a course and distance winner so we know she gets the trip well. I was very pleased with the performance in the Fillies’ Mile. It was a brave performance as she had a bit of an interrupted preparation going into the race.
“She is an exciting filly. Her pedigree suggests she will be open to stay further than a mile as well which gives her plenty of options. Like with Thunder Moon, she has wintered well and I’m pleased with where we are.
“She was consistently solid last season and hopefully we can keep it that way. She was fine on both soft and good ground so she is versatile ground wise. A decision on whether she has a prep run will depend on how she is training and how we feel closer to the time.”
Below can be found updates from trainers Jane Chapple-Hyam, Andrew Balding and Richard Hannon.
Jane Chapple-Hyam -Saffron Beach
Unbeaten in two starts over seven furlongs on the Rowley Mile in 2020, including the Group Three Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes
“I’m thrilled with the way she has come back from her winter break at Ben and Lucy’s Sangster’s in Manton. She has put on a nice 77lbs and she has matured into a filly that should be competitive for the Guineas. The plan will be to start her off in the Nell Gwyn and then two weeks later head for the Guineas. It was a quick turnaround between her two runs in her maiden and the Oh So Sharp last season so we know she can do it. I think she is a serious filly that is potentially top drawer. She has wintered well and developed nicely. She has got all the right attributes. She has done it on different ground types and I think if it is real good ground you will really see her scoot along. She is not complicated as she doesn’t have to lead or have cover or come with a late run. I just think she has got an engine. I think having her has helped everyone in the yard and myself get through the winter and I just hope we can get her to the Guineas now. If you look at her last run she hit the rising ground going away so I don’t see the mile being a problem at all.”
Andrew Balding - Alcohol Free
Won two of her three outings in 2020, ending the campaign with victory in the Group One Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in September.
“We are very much looking at the Guineas but that is still a long way off. She has had a good holiday but she still looks a bit wintery in her coat so we will see what happens over the next month as we all know what fillies can do in the spring. I really was impressed in the Cheveley Park as it was only her third run and she was entitled to improve again. She has done well physically but we haven’t really started serious work yet. Her pedigree offers mixed messages regarding the trip and that is about all I can go on at this stage. I’d be hopeful she would get it though as she relaxes pretty well but there is nothing we can do to find out until we try it. I think the plan if all goes well is to go to the Fred Darling first as a prep as I would like her to go over seven before going over a mile.”
Richard Hannon – Happy Romance
Landed valuable sales races at Newbury and York before defeating Alcohol Free in the Group Three Dick Poole Stakes at Salisbury. Fourth to same rival on final start in Group One Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.
“She has been a great advert for racing and for new owners coming into the sport. She was a pleasure to train last year. I didn’t think she was just a two year old I always thought she had the scope to go on. She didn’t handle the track great in the Cheveley Park but she ran well to finish fourth and the little bit more experience she gained will do her well. I’d think we will be looking at the Fred Darling first but I don’t think a mile will be a problem. She didn’t do anything wrong last year.”
Shine For You
Won Salisbury maiden before going on take third behind Saffron Beach in Group Three Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes.
“Shine For You is a really smart filly and she seemed to enjoy her last run at the end of the year when the ground was pretty soft. She looks decent. She has got a lot of condition now. She hasn’t won a Listed race yet but hopefully she will be able to pick one up. A Guineas trip I feel will suit her. She seems to like soft ground and if it is like that at Newbury we will go for the Fred Darling.”
Snow Lantern
Daughter of 2013 QIPCO 1000 Guineas winner Sky Lantern. Second on her only start in an Ascot maiden in July.
“She only had one run last year and we put her away after that. She looks like she has huge potential. Hopefully she is a nice filly and we were very lucky with her mare. She was always a very heavy filly and she ran very well at Ascot and we saw enough that we decided to just put her away for this year.”
Thank You Next
Won Nursery on the July Course and ended busy campaign when runner-up to Saffron Beach in the Group Three Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket.
“I’m very pleased with her and she might run in the Spring Cup at Lingfield at the weekend. We might go for the Prix Imprudence if travel allows it afterwards and this race is a nice race to take on the way. The Guineas is an option but she has to prove she is up to that level. She was kept busy last year but Billesdon Brook had plenty of runs at two and that didn’t do her any harm and she seemed to improve all year. Seven might have been on the sharp side for her in the Oh So Sharp but I think a mile will be plenty for her.”
QIPCO 1000 GUINEAS (Group 1) 02/05/21
A'Sha ari (GB) 3 9 0 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
Alcohol Free (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr J. C. Smith Andrew Balding
Aunty Bridy (IRE) 3 9 0 Lael Stable William Haggas
Baby Alya (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Jaber Abdullah Kevin Ryan
Belle Image (IRE) 3 9 0 John Lavery Ms Sheila Lavery
Dandalla (IRE) 3 9 0 Nick Bradley Racing 28 & E Burke K. R. Burke
Danilova (GB) 3 9 0 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
Divine Light (IRE) 3 9 0 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
Dubai Fountain (IRE) 3 9 0 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston
Fantasy Lady (IRE) 3 9 0 M Schwartz/Genesis Thoroughbreds Club P. Twomey
Fev Rover (IRE) 3 9 0 Nick Bradley Racing 43 & Partner Richard Fahey
Glenartney (GB) 3 9 0 Nat Rothschild Ed Walker
Happy Romance (IRE) 3 9 0 The McMurray Family Richard Hannon
Hazel (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs C. C. Regalado-Gonzalez Donnacha Aidan O'Brien
Hello Me (IRE) 3 9 0 Martley Hall Stud Ltd. Joseph Parr
High Heels (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien
Indigo Girl (GB) 3 9 0 Mr George Strawbridge John Gosden
Isabella Giles (IRE) 3 9 0 Paul & Clare Rooney Clive Cox
Joan of Arc (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien
Kestenna (GB) 3 9 0 Mr M. Al-Qatami & Mr K. M. Al-Mudhaf John Gosden
Liberated Lady (IRE) 3 9 0 Old Road Securities & Partners Hugo Palmer
Loch Lein (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs Joan Brosnan Mrs J. Harrington
Love Is You (IRE) 3 9 0 Normandie Stud Ltd Roger Charlton
Lucid Dreamer (GB) 3 9 0 Juddmonte Roger Charlton
Lullaby Moon (GB) 3 9 0 Amo Racing Limited & Mr Charles Obank Ralph Beckett
Mamba Wamba (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Dave Stone Adrian Nicholls
Meala (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs J. S. Bolger J. S. Bolger
Messidor (IRE) 3 9 0 Blue Devil Racing Stable LLC Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Miramis (IRE) 3 9 0 Spyglass Syndicate Ms Sheila Lavery
Miss Amulet (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs Doreen Tabor K. J. Condon
Monday (USA) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien
Monsoon Moon (GB) 3 9 0 Juddmonte John Gosden
More Beautiful (USA) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O'Brien
Mother Earth (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien
Pomelo (GB) 3 9 0 Juddmonte Ralph Beckett
Pretty Gorgeous (FR) 3 9 0 Mr John C. Oxley Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Queen's Speech (USA) 3 9 0 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien
Random Harvest (IRE) 3 9 0 Lady Bamford Ed Walker
Sacred (GB) 3 9 0 Cheveley Park Stud William Haggas
Saffron Beach (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs B. V. Sangster, J Wigan & O Sangster Jane Chapple-Hyam
Santa Barbara (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs.J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg Aidan O'Brien
Sea Empress (IRE) 3 9 0 Sunderland Holding Inc. William Haggas
Seattle Rock (GB) 3 9 0 Mr J. C. Smith Sylvester Kirk
Sense of Style (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs B. V. Sangster/ Mrs John Magnier Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Shale (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Donnacha Aidan O'Brien
Shine For You (GB) 3 9 0 Taylor & O'Dwyer and Partners Richard Hannon
Snowfall (JPN) 3 9 0 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien
Snow Lantern (GB) 3 9 0 Rockcliffe Stud Richard Hannon
Soft Whisper (IRE) 3 9 0 Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor
Star of Emaraaty (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Teruya Yoshida John Gosden
Statement (IRE) 3 9 0 Ballylinch Stud 1 Martyn Meade
Tawahub (GB) 3 9 0 Ms Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum John Gosden
Teona (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Ali Saeed Roger Varian
Thank You Next (IRE) 3 9 0 Middleham Park CXXII & Steven Rocco Richard Hannon
Thunder Beauty (IRE) 3 9 0 David K Kelly K. J. Condon
Umm Kulthum (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Saeed Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi Richard Fahey
Vadream (GB) 3 9 0 Mr D. R. J. King Charlie Fellowes
Vesela (GB) 3 9 0 Juddmonte Ralph Beckett
Wedding Dance (IRE) 3 9 0 Godolphin Charlie Appleby
Wild Iris (IRE) 3 9 0 Lady Bamford John Gosden
Willow (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien
Zaajirah (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum Roger Varian
Zeyaadah (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum Roger Varian
About QIPCO British Champions Series
QIPCO British Champions Series showcases 35 of the UK’s finest Flat races, including three of the world’s top 10. The Series features at all of the UK’s most iconic Flat festivals, from the Derby and St Leger, to Glorious Goodwood and Royal Ascot, presenting unparalleled, quality racing across 10 of the country’s finest racecourses.
The Series exhibits world-class sporting action across five different categories – Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies & Mares.
Five top-class races mark the climax of the Series on the Ultimate Raceday, QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 16th October, where the world’s best compete at the nation’s richest raceday.
Put simply, QIPCO British Champions Series shines the spotlight on the best horses, the best jockeys and the best racecourses, so that millions worldwide can follow the finest Flat racing.
For more info on QIPCO British Champions Series and Day visit britishchampionsseries.com
