“She's had a setback and there will be no Guineas,” said Sangster of the filly, who is owned by his mother Lucy and the Ballylinch Partnership. “She was training great and had wintered well. She had grown and strengthened up and her work had been very good this spring. She was in very good shape and we were looking forward to it [the Guineas].

“I'm not sure on a timescale, we will just have to see how the rehab goes in the next few weeks and then we will have a better guide on it.”

Sangster also provided an update on Wathnan Racing's Per Contra (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who is two-for-three. After winning a Chepstow maiden last July, the colt made his first start in his new colours when running out a 4 3/4-length winner in a Ffos Las novice. He most recently ran fifth in the G3 Autumn S. in October.

“He's in good form, he's going galloping tomorrow and Monday and then we will begin plotting a bit of a route for him,” added Sangster.

“I think he will go up in trip this year. I don't think he will be a big stayer but he will go up to 10 furlongs anyway. I think he is off quite a nice mark, so we will see.”

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“She ran a huge race and we thought she was going to win, but she was beaten by a good horse, also a Godolphin horse, and I'm happy for Charlie [Appleby],” bin Suroor commented. “Our filly is tough and hard and it was the first time she ran with the colts. She proved herself good enough to be with them.

“Oisin [Murphy] gave her a very good ride, he did everything right and she ran a huge race. Now she is going back to Dubai and we'll try and find a race for her, maybe the [G1] Jebel Hatta and then the [G1] Dubai Turf. After that we'll find races for her in the UK and Europe. I think a mile is her best trip, but sometimes it can be hard to find races for her. I know she won over nine furlongs at Keeneland, but at the mile I think she is at her best.”

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Making her first start across the pond, the Irish-bred filly entered on a three-race win streak, having crossed the wire first in every start this calendar year culminating with her half-length win over Newmarket's straight mile in May's 1000 Guineas S. Despite being unraced since that spring effort, Mawj did little to dissuade the wagering public who dispatched her as the 6-5 favorite.

Away evenly, Mawj was guided out several paths off the rail over a turf course labeled as good and quickly had a neck in front of a pair of rivals to her inside passing the wire for the first time. Murphy left the rail open around the turn but guided his filly down in time to slam the door on Mission of Joy (Kitten's Joy) and gain a clear lead as the 3-year-old fillies began the backstretch run. 5-2 second choice Elusive Princess (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}) rated off the leader's heels in a group that stayed mostly intact through opening fractions in :23.26 and :47.72. Mawj maintained her advantage around the far turn but Elusive Princess made a run at her as the top flight straightened for the final furlong. Mission of Joy, undeterred and still with plenty of run, again made a move on the leader but was put away as the 'Rising Star' stretched out to secure the win over a fast-closing Lindy (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). The victory secured a historic 500th group win for trainer Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

“Thank God,” said the winning trainer when asked about his result. “This is great (for me) to win 500 (grade and) group (races) and a Group 1 with the filly Mawj, a classic winner. To come to America, to Keeneland, to win is a great result for everybody.”

When asked about a next start in the either the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile against males or the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at 1 1/4 miles, Suroor said: “It looks to me she has plenty of speed as a miler and she made it today nine furlongs. But we'll see. The mile might be the best for her, sure, but I want to decide closer to the race.”

“(Trainer) Saeed (bin Suroor) was delighted with her work at home and he asked me to sit on her last week just before she flew (to the U.S.) and she felt brilliant,” added Murphy. “She felt back to her best. We did quite quick sections (fractions) in the first half of the race, but she is a superstar filly. She found plenty. She's got a great heart and mind. I'm delighted to win for (owner) Godolphin and Saeed here; it's his 500th group winner, so for me to ride it for him means the world.”

Pedigree Note:

Modern Ideals (GB) has more than done her job in the paddocks, producing a pair of Grade/Group 1 winners already including GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner, Eclipse Champion and new Dalham Hall Stud resident Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) along with SW/MGSP Modern News (GB) (Shamardal). The dam herself is a half-sister to G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium winner Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}) and GSW Synopsis (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}). Godolphin has retained the last two foals out of Modern Ideals: a 2-year-old Mastercraftsman (Ire) filly and a weanling full-sister to Modern Games.

Saturday, Keeneland
QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP S. PRESENTED BY DIXIANA-GI, $501,000, Keeneland, 10-14, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.06, gd.
1–MAWJ (IRE), 121, f, 3, by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: Modern Ideals (GB), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Epitome (Ire), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Proskona, by Mr. Prospector
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Oisin Murphy. $294,500. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 9-6-1-1, $956,585. *1/2 to Modern News (GB) (Shamardal), SW & MGSP-Eng, MSP-UAE, $225,210; and Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Hwt. 3yo-Eur & Eng at 7-9.5f, Ch. Turf Horse & MGISW-US, GISW-Can, G1SW-Eng & Fr, $3,571,418. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lindy (Fr), 121, f, 3, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Llanita (GB) (SP-Fr, SP-USA, $135,802), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)
2nd Dam: Chill (Fr), by Verglas (Ire)
3rd Dam: Calithea (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
(€90,000 Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Everest Racing; B-Ecurie La Vallee Martigny Earl (FR); T-Brendan P Walsh. $95,000.
3–Mission of Joy, 121, f, 3, by Kitten's Joy
1st Dam: Smart Mission, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Misty Mission, by Miswaki
3rd Dam: Hangin On a Star, by Vice Regent
1ST G1 BLACK-TYPE. ($32,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT). O-RyZan Sun Racing LLC & Madaket Stables LLC; B-Sam-Son Farm (ON); T-H. Graham Motion. $47,500.
Margins: HF, HF, 1HF. Odds: 1.31, 5.72, 25.23.
Also Ran: Elusive Princess (Fr), Sounds of Heaven (GB), Liguria, Elounda Queen (Ire), Papilio (Ire), Freydis the Red (Fr). Scratched: Be Your Best (Ire), Heavenly Sunday, Prerequisite, Safeen. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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The imposing three-for-four Karl Burke trainee won her Haydock debut in May, ran second at listed level at Sandown in July and then rattled off victories in August's G3 Sweet Solera S. and the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at the Curragh in September. She was under consideration for next week's G1 Fillies' Mile.

“I'd say she is unlikely to run again this year and will just head straight for a Guineas next year,” said Foley.

“We were always planning to give her just four runs this year. If she hadn't won the Moyglare we would have targeted the Fillies' Mile, but she's already a Group 1 winner at two now and she's a big filly with lots of scope for next year, so we don't want to interfere with that.

“We've decided to let her off and give her a break, so she's not going to run in the Fillies' Mile and she was never going to a Breeders' Cup this year.”

Burke will be in charge of determining if the filly will have a prep run before the 1000 Guineas.

Foley added, “We'll see how she goes [for a prep] and leave that to Karl. Going straight to the Newmarket Guineas was the original plan, but that could change.”

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Been There…

What is different to most 2000 Guineas of recent times, and this is probably testament to how strong a season 2022 was for the juveniles, is this is very much one for the already-proven performers with barely an unexposed type to be seen. Only four of the line-up have not contested at least two group races and, of those, the aforementioned Sakheer and Noble Style were denied a second pattern-race outing only by training setbacks. When it comes to establishing fitting credentials for this Classic, Juddmonte's Chaldean who has the combined Frankel and Frankie factor is out on his own.

Building a head of steam throughout the perfectly-aligned G1 Dewhurst S. stepping stones of the G3 Acomb S. and G2 Champagne S. over York and Doncaster's level courses, he duly conquered the undulations of this track on Future Champions Day to bring up a treble that would have been beyond a colt with less inherent quality. Yes, he would be an extremely rare Guineas winner with a “U” in his form, having lost Dettori at the start of the G3 Greenham S., but that unfortunate incident was a mere aberration and will serve only as a curious footnote if he masters his peers once again here.

If successful, one of the operation's rare purchases will be providing Andrew Balding with a second renewal in four years with only Aidan O'Brien, Sir Michael Stoute, Saeed bin Suroor and Andre Fabre having achieved that in recent times. The new face of Kingsclere is on his way to matching the kudos enjoyed by his father but of course the emphasis is on Frankie during the Italian's long goodbye tour.

Dettori, whose own father Gianfranco came and conquered here on Bolkonski (Ire) to start a new racing dynasty back in 1975, has the least-complicated tactical conundrum of all as he outlined when offering his insights as an ambassador for World Pool. “The way I see it, the fancied ones are drawn 11-13, so it's not ideal being away from them, but Chaldean is a horse who can go and run his own race,” he said. “He's got plenty of speed, so hopefully he can get away well and be right up there from the off, just like he was in the Dewhurst and the Champagne S. His form is very solid and you know exactly what you're getting with Chaldean–he's bombproof–whereas the others have a bit to prove. It's just a case of whether the others can step up to match or better what he's shown already.”

Bad News Bear?

Supporters of Auguste Rodin, and there are many judged by the way the betting market has moved in recent weeks, will be well-served to cast their minds back to 2002 which was the last time Aidan O'Brien ran two elite performers against each other here. Rock Of Gibraltar's defeat of Hawk Wing will live long in the memory largely due to the quality of the first two, but also because of the tactical nature of the edition with the not-unfamiliar field split playing out so dramatically on that occasion. There should be no repeat of that at least, with Little Big Bear drawn alongside his much-vaunted stablemate and fellow TDN Rising Star, but there is no guarantee that Ryan Moore's pick will be able to peg back what was one of the best 2-year-olds to have emerged since Frankel.

Despite the nature of Little Big Bear's G3 Anglesey S. and G1 Phoenix S. performances, which suggested strongly that a mile would be well within his compass, there was talk of Nunthorpes until his injury cut short his campaign much as it did the yard's comparable past juvenile overlord Fasliyev. Without the proof that runs in the Vincent O'Brien National S. or Dewhurst would have provided, it is probably not far of the mark to state that even those closest to him are not sold on what type of runner he will turn out to be.

As a benchmark of brilliance, of both the permanent and precocious variety, Little Big Bear's scintillating seven-length defeat of the G2 July S. winner Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is Guineas-winning form in practically every year, even allowing for stamina concerns. Should he use his physicality to pull away Zafonic-style in what the old school used to call “the last 2-year-old race”, nobody can be truly surprised.

Ryan Moore knows both the Rosegreen undergraduates, who he states are “the two best horses in here”, better than anybody and the man with the hardest call offered the big reveal in his Betfair blog. “Little Big Bear clearly has a lot of pace, but I personally think he will stay a mile and that makes him a very dangerous rival to all,” he said. “Auguste Rodin is an exciting prospect for the season, but hopefully for the here and now, too. But would it surprise me if Little Big Bear beat him? Not really.”

One Eye On The Commonwealth…

   A glance at the 2000 Guineas records of winners of the six-furlong G2 Richmond S. and G2 Mill Reef S. offers little statistical hope for Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Sakheer and, while the former did go close in the Dewhurst, there have to be doubts as to how they will cope with a strong-run mile on easy ground. While this renewal looks set to boast an above-average Guineas winner, it is also on the cards that it could contain a Commonwealth Cup winner once the dust has settled and the various teams regroup for Royal Ascot and Epsom.

Sakheer's connections were already in the dark about the mile and, ominously, Friday's lightning storm led to a flag start to the last race. After the double-whammy of rain on already-watered ground, they are understandably anxious. “Ideally we wouldn't want too much more rain,” KHK Racing's racing manager Chris Wall said. “I was a little exasperated to see that Michael Prosser had started to water the track, which seems rather an unnecessary thing to do, given that we have had the wettest spring for 40 years but there we go. The horse couldn't be in better condition and we're looking forward to the day. He's a very talented horse, but we're not sure yet what his best trip might be.”

Tahiyra Faces Big 1000 Guineas Field

Dermot Weld will be one trainer not unhappy to see Friday's rain after he confirmed The Aga Khan's undefeated G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine and TDN Rising Star Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) among a cast of 20 for Sunday's G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas. Handed stall 15 for the feature, the half-sister to connections' luminary Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) will be reopposed by the Moyglare runner-up and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) as Ballydoyle's lone representative after another of the stable's leading lights Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is kept back for either ParisLongchamp or The Curragh.

Chris Hayes has the task of trying to provide Weld with a first 1000 Guineas and said, “She looked terribly exciting [in the Moyglare], she seems to have wintered well so I'm looking forward to it. I'm very excited, to get on any favourite in a Classic is rare, for me it's the stuff of dreams so we'll see what we can do. Obviously, like the boss has said, there's always the question if they train on from two to three, but on her home work she appears to have and she's just a pleasure. She'll never get you excited going up the gallops but she turns it on at the races.”

Alongside Never Ending Story, Juddmonte's G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. winner Juliet Sierra (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) was the only other not to be confirmed and Godolphin's decision to run a trio of contenders is one of many indicators that very few are running scared of the Weld filly. This is the biggest assembly since Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) mastered 20 rivals in 2007, two years before Saeed bin Suroor enjoyed his last English Classic victory. The trainer has live prospects of ending that drought with TDN Rising Star Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who bids to confirm the form of the Jumeirah Fillies Classic with William Buick's pick of Charlie Appleby's duo, Dream Of Love (Ire) (Shamardal).

Amo Racing's Classic dream lives on through the impressive G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner Mammas Girl (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who is nearest the stand's rail in 20 while on the opposite wing is Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen's G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). She gives Ralph Beckett a strong hand along with Julian Richmond-Watson's unbeaten G3 Fred Darling S. scorer Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in a fascinating encounter which could yet be shaped by the local storm.

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Included among Irish-breds who are also possible to run Sunday are Group 3 winner Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and G1 Moyglare Stud S. victress Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a full-sister to Irish 1000 Guineas scorer Alpha Centuri, also trained by Jessica Harrington. Homeless Song, tackling a mile for the first time, may sidestep Sunday's race in favor of the French equivalent May 15. However, one likely to favour of staying local rather than a trip to ParisLongchamp is G3 Fred Darling S. winner Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is Godolphin's sole representative in the race.

Represented by his first Classic runner, James Ferguson is on course to saddle G3 Prestige S. scorer Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), fourth in the Fillies' Mile over the 1000 Guineas track and trip, before running down the field when making the trip to Del Mar for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing, who own the filly, explained, “She was possibly unlucky not to finish second at Newmarket. If she finished second, she would be among favouritism at the moment.”

“The race didn't work out at all for her in the Breeders' Cup. She was poorly drawn, went forward, was pushed wide and the whole thing was a non-event.”

Mise En Scene, currently an 11-1 chance with Coral for the Guineas, will be reunited with Cieren Fallon.

“Oisin Murphy rode her in a piece of work on Tuesday morning and was delighted with her,” he said. “She seems to have come forward very well. She hardly blew a candle out afterwards and didn't get out of second gear, apparently,” added Redvers.

“We know she handles Newmarket and a straight mile should not provoke any problems at all. You never know until fillies run how they are going to go.”

“Physically and mentally, she has appeared to have done extremely well and we can only hope and keep our fingers crossed that she gets a bit of luck in running and proves how good she is.”

Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), runner-up on Breeders' Cup day last fall, bested Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) when they met in Deauville's G3 Prix Imprudence on heavy ground last month and the duo could meet again. Tom Marquand gets the call on the latter.

Also included in the Classic lineup are G3 Nell Gwyn S. heroine Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}), who bids to give trainer George Boughey his first Classic success, Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), and recent maiden winner Ameynah (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}).

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“Everyone seems happy with her at this stage,” said Roger Charlton. “Preparation has been so far without issues, and the plan is to run in the Nell Gwyn. It's been a fair winter–luckily we didn't have snow to hold us up. She's been ticking along.

“It's pretty miserable and cold for fillies right now, but that's also what normally happens at this time of year. It's never easy, or ideal, but it's the same for everybody.”

“I think she's developed well,” he added. “The main competition normally comes from the other side of the Irish Sea–and they've got quite a few reserves as well, I suspect.

“Her last race was run on pretty appalling ground–I don't think it's what she needs, particularly, but she did it well. We'll find out more when she runs at Newmarket, I guess.

“She dealt with the ground [at Newbury]. I don't think going is an issue for her. That was an extreme–nobody would choose to run on it, but there weren't too many other choices.”

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“The plan is to go to Newmarket the first weekend in May and she will be in two races,” Gosden, who trains with his son Thady and enjoyed a Group 1 double in Dubai on Saturday, said. “She is in the 1000 Guineas but she will also be put in the Pretty Polly. We will just see how she is before making a decision but that is the weekend we are training her for.

“She has had a good winter and we are quite happy with her. She has only done half speeds so far and she hasn't done any fast work yet.

“The deciding factor of which route we take will be how she is training at the time. If we have races like the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) in mind and we feel a mile and a quarter will suit her straight away, then we will go for that (Pretty Polly). If she is showing us the natural speed you want for the Guineas, then we would look at that instead.”

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Trained by Sir Henry Cecil, Jacqueline Quest passed the post in front in the 2010 G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, only to be demoted to second place for causing interference to eventual winner Special Duty.
Shortly following the demotion, Martin commented: “They took the race away from me. She is still Jacqueline Quest and they cannot take that away from me. I have not seen a race taken away in British horseracing since God knows when, but I have been through a lot of bad luck so it is not a problem.”

Born in Jamaica and raised in Birmingham, Martin was left paralyzed following a neo-Nazi attack in Germany in 1996. During his lifetime, Martin, who was very involved with causes against racial intolerance, returned to Germany in 2001 to lead an anti-racist demonstration.

Having enjoyed better luck for Martin four years prior to his Group 1 disqualification, trainer Mick Channon saddled Baddam (GB) (Mujahid) to win both the Ascot S. and Queen Alexandra S. in the space of five days at Royal Ascot in 2008.

“We had that brilliant week together at Royal Ascot–I don’t think Noel could believe it, to be honest,” Channon said. “We had a couple of great nights in the car park with all his friends, it was brilliant.”
Both Jacqueline Quest and Baddam went on to be trained by Ian Williams.

“We had some great times together,” Williams recalled. “Noel was a good friend and someone whose company I enjoyed immensely. I always admired and respected the way he took the defeat in the Guineas-that was a mark of the gentleman he was.”

Williams added, “Despite the unfortunate position he was in, Noel always had a smile on his face. Every time you thought you were having a bad day, you only had to think of Noel and how happy he was just to be alive. I’ll miss him greatly.”

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