Sangster Red-Hot On Simmering’s Chances For Glory In The 1,000 Guineas

[Wandering Eyes]

Rising star of the training ranks Ollie Sangster says he is eyeing a tilt at the 1,000 Guineas with Simmering (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and revealed that his chances of bagging a breakthrough success at the highest level this season have been bolstered by the return of 2023 Fillies' Mile runner-up Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}).

Simmering came to the boil with a Group 2 success in the Prix du Calvados at Deauville before confirming herself a genuine top-notcher when chasing home Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Moyglare Stakes at the Curragh. That form places Simmering in the 1,000 Guineas picture, for which the filly can be backed at odds of 33-1. 

Speaking about plans, Sangster said, “We don't underestimate how hard it is [to win a Group 1] but we definitely think we have a couple of possibilities going into this season. Simmering is in good form–she stayed here and wintered well. We're very happy with how things have gone with her–the win in the Group 2 Prix Calvados was good but I suppose finishing second in the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes behind Lake Victoria was her best performance. The ground was against her in the Prix Marcel Boussac [where she finished fourth] and that effort probably came at the end of a long season. We're aiming for Newmarket. Whether we run her in a trial or not is still to be decided but I wouldn't be surprised if she went straight to the 1,000 Guineas.”

Asked if he felt Simmering was too big of a price at odds of 33-1, Sangster replied, “I'd say so. She's consistent, likes quick ground and she's the second-highest rated filly in England behind Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Obviously there are a few nice fillies in Ireland but they all have to turn up. At the end of the day, she's Group 1-placed filly and there aren't many of those around. A lot of the sire's progeny did very well at three last year as well–Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) being the perfect example–and Simmering is a good size and has scope, so you'd definitely be hopeful that she has trained on and has more to offer. If she can even improve a bit, hopefully she can be competitive in the 1,000 Guineas.”

Simmering: is 33-1 for the 1,000 Guineas | Scoop Dyga

Simmering stepped up to the plate last season for Sangster in the absence of Shuwari, who the trainer had genuine Classic hopes for, given she pushed Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) close in the Fillies' Mile as a juvenile. But having been forced to sit out last season, Shuwari is back in full training and Sangster says that he feels the best may yet be to come with the four-year-old. 

He said, “She obviously had a setback last season which is why we gave her plenty of time to recover and basically wrote the whole year off with her. The plan at the moment is to have a look and hopefully run in the Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes at Kempton. Her two-year-old form has worked out well with Sea The Fire, Fallen Angel and Ylang Ylang all performing to a good level last year. We're hopeful that Shuwari still retains a lot of her ability and hopefully she will have bigger and better targets to come as the season progresses. It looks like a nice starting point.”

Sangster added, “We felt that, even when she was second in the Fillies' Mile, things could have been different if things would have unfolded a bit more in our favour. It is very hard to get your hands on these very good race fillies and they will be in the paddock for a long time so, between the vets and my own team, we have put a lot of work into her and it would be a real feather in everyone's cap if she can justify our decision to keep her in training.”

Sangster also nominated Celestial Orbit (GB) (No Nay Never) and Flight (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) as being smart sorts to keep the right side of this season.

He said, “Celestial Orbit picked up a small injury when winning the Listed Star Stakes at Sandown but she won that race well and the form has worked out nicely. She was actually bred by my old man and is a half-sister to Nayef Road (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was a good horse but just bumped into Stradivarius (Ire) a bunch of times. She's wintered well and will go for a Guineas trial of some description and is in a couple of different races in France. She's lightly-raced and we're hoping she could progress into a Group filly.”

Sangster added, “Flight was third in the May Hill when travelling very strongly and probably getting to the front a little bit too soon. The step back to seven furlongs probably wasn't of benefit when she was third in the Oh So Sharp Stakes because she's quite a big filly. The dam progressed well with racing and got better with age. This filly has wintered well and looks great. I think she should have a good year. She has Group-placed form and it would be nice to win a Stakes race with her now. Her work has been really good this spring and, as I said, she's such a big filly she should be better as a three-year-old.”

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