Newmarket’s 1000 Guineas has not been a happy hunting ground for trainer Mick Channon down the years. The colourful handler has had plenty of fancied contenders in the fillies’ Classic without success and should probably have won the race in 2008 when his Nahoodh finished a close fifth to Natagora after suffering a troubled passage inside the final furlong.
The master of West Ilsley stables will hope to put the record straight in the Qipco-sponsored fillies’ Classic on Sunday 6th May should the owners of Dubai Duty Free Stakes ( Fred Darling ) winner Dan’s Dream decide to supplement the daughter of Cityscape for the Classic next month.
While the seven furlong Group 3 contest did not look a vintage renewal of the race won in the past by the likes of Salsabil, Shadayid and Bosra Sham in the 1990’s the mount of Silvestre de Sousa did well to beat Tajaanus by a length and a quarter after being hampered early on and certainly deserves to take his chance at Newmarket, for which she can be backed at 20-1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill.
The Al Basti Equiworld Supporting Greatwood Greenham Stakes resulted in something of a bunched finish with Frankie Dettori and James Garfield prevailing by three quarters of a length over 7-4 favourite Expert Eye, with Hey Gaman and Raid right behind in third and fourth places.
The seven furlong trial went to the great Frankel in 2011 and other notable recent winners include Paco Boy, Kingman and Muhaarar. While it is unlikely Saturday’s race contained anything of that high standard the first two horses home can be backed at 25-1 ( Betvictor ) and 16-1 ( Ladbrokes and Paddy Power ) respectively.
The other Group race on the eight-race card was the 1m 4f John Porter Stakes which went to the well-backed 5-4 favourite Defoe who made it three from three at the Berkshire venue and is likely to make his mark in the top middle-distance contests this season. A trip to Ireland for the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup is the possible next stop for the grey son of Dalakhani who can land a decent prize for trainer Roger Varian in the months ahead.
