Friday saw the confirmations for Sunday's G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, where the Westerberg silks will be prominent again via Ballydoyle's unbeaten G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Tenebrism (Caravaggio). Representing the powerful combination including Coolmore and Merriebelle Stables, the 'TDN Rising Star' will break from stall five under Ryan Moore alongside her Frankie Dettori-ridden stablemate Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in four. Close by is the Niarchos family's G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in six, next to Everest Racing, Barbara Keller and David Redvers' G3 Prix Imprudence scorer Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in seven as the main contenders are clustered together by fate.
The Fabre Factor
Tom Marquand has built up a rapport with Al Wasmiyah Racing and has been granted the opportunity to ride the operation's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who has 1 1/2 lengths to make up on Malavath from the Imprudence. Surprisingly, Andre Fabre has only sent three fillies over for this Classic despite his much-vocalised love for the Suffolk venue and the legions of potential contenders he has had through his hands. The last two were Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill), who was third in one of the finest editions of recent years in 2003, and the 2014 winner Miss France (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), so Zellie coming to a Classic that has been kind to France down the years is a big deal.
“It is a huge opportunity to be able to team up with her,” Marquand said. “The only worry is that her Group 1 win was on heavy ground and it definitely won't be that at the weekend, but it's a pretty open-looking Guineas.”
Varian's Dark Horse Gaining Momentum
Roger Varian has Eydon in the 2000 and another lightly-raced unexposed one in the fillies' version in Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Ameynah (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who comes here via a seven-furlong maiden at the Craven meeting. From the family of Embassy (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) and Tarfshi (GB) (Mtoto {GB}), she has crept into sight with the high-profile defections of the Frankel fillies Inspiral (GB) and Homeless Songs (Ire) and now rates as a contender in a renewal that is hard to pin down.
“A week or so ago, the Guineas was not even on our mind but in the last seven to 10 days she has made it hard for it not to be,” her trainer explained on Friday. “She is in tremendous form and worked very well at the weekend. On Sunday evening, we'll know whether or not we were right to take the plunge.”
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