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Hughes Eyes Breakthrough Classic Success With His Queen And Star

Richard Hughes is eyeing a breakthrough Classic as a trainer this season–but admitted that high-class prospects Queen Of Zafeen (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) and Star Music (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) would likely bid for big-race glory in Germany or France rather than take on the big guns domestically.

Both fillies will test their Classic credentials next month with Hughes stating that he has built up his strongest team yet. Queen Of Zafeen and Star Music are owned by Jaber Abdullah and, while they hold entries in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas, the Weathercock House handler is exploring options outside of Newmarket.

He said, “I'm probably going to run Queen Of Zafeen in the Nell Gwyn because she has no experience on grass and it has all happened a bit quick for her really.

“She will have had a nice break from the Spring Cup to the Nell Gwyn and I'm thinking the German 1,000 Guineas rather than the English version, but we will let her do the talking first.”

Star Music will also be in action that week with the Oh So Sharp S. third set for a run in the Dubai Duty Free S.–better known as the Fred Darling–at Newbury on April 20.

“She will go for the Fred Darling and a theory I have, which might be wrong, is that Zoustars prefer a really flat track,” Hughes continued.

“They are a bit like Exceed And Excels and just seem to act better when it is really flat. She was particularly impressive when she won at Kempton but I just feel Newmarket might not be her track, even though she ran a blinder in the Oh So Sharp. I might think of Longchamp for her if she runs well in her trial.”

Hughes is also holding plenty of hope for Derby entrant Kamboo (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), who is set for an early season appearance in the Bet365 Feilden S. at Newmarket, while the former champion jockey turned trainer feels he is entering the season with some real talent at his disposal.

“Kamboo is one for the Feilden and is showing up well at home,” he added. “It's all a bit undecided at the moment but it's the first time I've had a handful of Group horses in my yard.

“Normally we have one that is a hopeful, but this time I'm pretty confident I have four or five to go to war with, which is pretty good for a small enough string.

“I'm a bit of a realist and Lizzie [Hughes's wife] says I'm negative at times. It's just this year I know I have nice horses to go to war with, so it's been a little bit different in the spring.

“Now they are running so well it is a bonus–everything we seem to be running at the moment is winning or going close, so it's going really well.

Meanwhile, Dominic Ffrench Davis says he is doing a rain dance ahead of a potential tilt at the 1,000 Guineas with the Amo Racing-owned Persian Dreamer (Calyx {GB}).

“Persian Dreamer is not back in the yard yet, she's over with Robson Aguiar in Ireland but he tells me she's doing well so we're looking forward to her coming back,” the trainer said.

“I hope this rain continues because to win a Group 1 with her would be the aim, but she needs to get her toe in.”

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‘I Like Her A Lot’ – O’Brien Says Ylang Ylang An Able 1,000 Guineas Deputy

Ryan Moore would have faced a straightforward decision to ride Opera Singer (Justify) in the 1,000 Guineas had Ballydoyle arrived at Newmarket with a full strength squad, according to Aidan O'Brien, who hopes Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) can prove an able deputy to the runaway Prix Marcel Boussac winner on May 5 .

O'Brien revealed on Monday that Opera Singer was unlikely to make the 1,000 Guineas after suffering a minor setback which resulted in Ylang Ylang's odds tumbling from 8-1 into as short as 7-2 in places. Speaking at a Ballydoyle media morning on Wednesday, he all but ruled the filly out of Newmarket.

While O'Brien described himself as a big fan of the G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Ylang Ylang, he remains in little doubt over the pecking order in the three-year-old fillies' brigade.

Asked if Moore would have faced a difficult decision if Opera Singer and Ylang Ylang were to line out against each other at Newmarket, O'Brien said, “I don't think so. If Opera Singer was going to make the Guineas, I don't think it would have been a difficult choice for Ryan. She [Opera Singer] is very good. What she did in the Boussac…she's another Justify, set her off in front and follow her if you want.

“The other filly [Ylang Ylang] is very good but you have to take your time with her. That's what makes the Justifys so good, they are so uncomplicated.”

He added on Ylang Ylang, “I like her a lot. She did very well to do what she did because everything went wrong with her the third day–she was too keen. She had to come back to Newmarket and relax but then to go back and do what she did in the Fillies' Mile, you'd have to like her a lot.

“She could get a mile and a half as she's out of a Shamardal mare, so there's every chance she could, and the way she likes to be ridden will help her.

“Opera Singer is cantering but missed a few weeks, so I imagine the Irish 1,000 Guineas would be the earliest we'll see her. We'd just have to rush her too much otherwise. The year is long.”

Group 3 winner Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is another filly that O'Brien holds in high regard with a view towards some of the fillies' Classics.

He said, “Content was impressive last year, she had a lovely run first time but then went to Ascot and lost her way, we had to slow her down and get her to relax.

“She won at the Curragh and came home very well [in fourth] in the Breeders' Cup. She could be a very nice filly, you just have to take your time with her, as she has plenty of speed.”

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Setback Puts Opera Singer’s Guineas Challenge in Doubt

Opera Singer (Justify), winner of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and winter favourite for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas, may miss the first Classic of the season after meeting with a setback in training. Her trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed the news in an interview on Racing TV.

He said, “Opera Singer is a bit behind. She had a little setback, she had two weeks easy and might not make the English Guineas. She is likely to start in the Irish Guineas and we don't want to force her.”

Bred by the late Evie Stockwell, Opera Singer is a half-sister to the Group/Grade 1 winners Brave Anna and Hit It A Bomb, both by War Front. The daughter of Liscanna (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) won three of her five starts at two, culminating in her top-level triumph in Paris at the Arc meeting. Prior to that she had beaten Monday's G3 Park Express S. winner Brilliant (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in the G3 Newtown Anner Stud Irish EBF S. at the Curragh.

Her stable-mate Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), winner of the G1 Fillies' Mile, has now replaced Opera Singer at the head of the betting for the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday, May 5.

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Trainer Lupini Confirms New Owner For 1,000 Guineas Contender Kitty Rose

Natalia Lupini has confirmed that stable star Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}) has been sold to owner Tim Porter but will remain in the care of the County Down-based trainer until after the Qipco 1,000 Guineas at least.

Porter's colours were carried in Ireland last season aboard the Joseph O'Brien-trained Honey Girl (GB) (Mayson {GB}). It is understood that Kitty Rose, who won the Listed Ingabelle S. at the Irish Champions Festival before finishing second in a Group 3, will continue her career in Australia later this summer.

Before then, Lupini, one of the most upwardly mobile trainers in Ireland, says she is dreaming of a breakthrough Classic victory with a filly who can be backed at odds of 33-1 for the Newmarket showpiece.

Lupini told TDN Europe, “Kitty Rose has been sold [by former owner Nigel O'Hare] to a new owner but she stays in the yard. She will stay with us for the spring but she might head to Australia towards the end of the year. It is great news that she will stay with us for a few runs at least before heading to Australia. We're really excited and very grateful to the new owners for giving us the chance to train her for her next couple of races at least.”

She added, “We were just speaking with the owners during the week and they are keen to run in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. We are aiming for the Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial on April 7 at Leopardstown first. After that, we can make a decision on Newmarket.”

Kitty Rose | Racingfotos.com

Lupini enjoyed her greatest ever tally of domestic winners last term. The Milan native sent out 16 winners from 102 runners. The figure stood at 14 wins from 56 runners the previous year. Prior to that, Lupini's greatest number of five wins was posted in 2021.

Things have been progressing nicely and top-notch breeze-up handler and respected pre-trainer Robson Aguiar was showered with praise by the trainer for pointing her in the direction of Kitty Rose.

Lupini explained, “We bought Kitty Rose from Robson Aguiar last year. We try to work closely with him and, for the past few seasons, we have bought a few horses from him. We get great feedback from Robson and we usually go to him with a plan. We have some new owners who have really embraced this new venture with us. He's a very good person to deliver exactly what an owner wants, be that a handicapper or a Group performer. He's able to say exactly what he thinks about each horse and then to put a price on it. Thankfully, Kitty Rose turned out to be very good. The relationship is working well.”

Away from Kitty Rose, there is plenty to look forward to for Lupini and her team, with a record number of juveniles in the system and high-class older horse Dunum (Ire) (Ivawood {Ire}) pencilled in for a trip to Royal Ascot.

She said, “It's been really exciting and we are working with the biggest number of horses we have ever had this season. We're still a small yard but we have a good number of two-year-olds and we're growing. We're thrilled with the team of horses that we have to work with this season. Not only the two-year-olds, but horses like Dunum as well. He will be aimed at the Emerald Mile on Irish Guineas weekend at the Curragh. We could look at Royal Ascot for him as well.”

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