Strong International Challenge for Guineas

[Wandering Eyes]

The entries for the first two British Classics of the season have been unveiled, with 75 colts engaged in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas on May 4 and 58 fillies in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas a day later.

The list is headed by the champion 2-year-old of 2018, Lord Lloyd-Webber’s Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), while among a potentially strong overseas challenge is the Andre Fabre-trained Persian King (Ire), who is being aimed at the only race to have eluded his talented sire Kingman (GB) during an eight-race career. The young Juddmonte sire finished second to Night Of Thunder (Ire) in 2014 before going on to win the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace S., Sussex S. and Prix Jacques le Marois.

“Persian King has done well and has had a quiet winter. He had his first canter on the grass this morning and there is no rush with him,” said Fabre.

“I am a great fan of Newmarket Racecourse and it helps that Persian King got some experience of the Rowley Mile when he won the [G3] Autumn Stakes there. It was a strong piece of form and he won despite still being green.”

He continued, “But getting practice for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas was not the sole purpose for running him in the Autumn Stakes – it was a good race for him on nice ground – and there is still a chance we could decide to run him in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains instead.

“I would very much like for him to have a prep race before his Classic and that could be in the Prix Djebel but good ground is important for him so if we were to get heavy rain he may have to skip the trials. He won’t be coming to England for his prep race as the timing of the British trials is too close to the Classics.”

Another international trainer who is a regular visitor to Britain, though more commonly seen at Royal Ascot, is Wesley Ward, who has The Mackem Bullet (Ire) entered for the 1000 Guineas. Formerly trained in Britain by Brian Ellison, the daughter of the late Society Rock (Ire) is another with good form at the track having been beaten only a neck by fellow Guineas entrant Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the G1 Cheveley Park S.

“Bringing over a horse for the Guineas is something that I have always wanted to do and in The Mackem Bullet I think I might have found the right filly. It really helps that she already has plenty of European experience – it would be much more difficult with one who had raced exclusively in America,” said Ward.
“The plan is for The Mackem Bullet to run in the [GII] Appalachian Stakes [ at Keeneland on April 7] and after that I will have to consult with her owner, Mr Yoshida, and his American agent, John McCormack, before we decide if we should take a big chance and send her over or keep her here in America.”

He added, “She is very, very happy at the moment, she has no issues and seems to be over any of her previous nervous antics. She is a big filly with a nice mind who is eating the bottom out of her feed tub.”

European champion 2-year-old filly Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is also among the entries along with fellow Group 1 winners Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}) and Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy).

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