Lady Kaya Headed To Newmarket

[Wandering Eyes]

Last out G3 1000 Guineas Trial S. winner Lady Kaya (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) is one of 24 fillies remaining for the May 5 G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas after the latest scratching stage. The filly who was unsold at €12,000 as a yearling at Tattersalls Ireland and now races in the silks of Joanne Lavery will be the first Classic starter for the owner’s aunt, trainer Sheila Lavery.

“Lady Kaya came out of her Leopardstown race very well, I am very happy with her, and she now heads to Newmarket,” the trainer said. “She will be my first runner in a Classic and I’m just trying to get her there in one piece and trying not to think about it too much–if I do it makes me feel physically ill.

“I like being the underdog and I think she is a wonderful story for racing. She was very inexpensive and it shows that there is a dream out there for everyone–everyone can buy the dream and for Joanne it has come true.”

Lady Kaya has prior experience over the Rowley Mile, having finished sixth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in the G1 Cheveley Park S. in September.

“I have taken advice from a number of people, including Pat Smullen, and we think that going over to England is the best option for her,” Lavery continued. “One of the reasons why we have chosen to send her to Newmarket is that we know she handles the track, having run on it in the Cheveley Park S. She only finished sixth that day but that was not her true form; it came too soon for her, less than two weeks after the Moyglare, and she ran flat.

“I think Lady Kaya was fairly straight for her Leopardstown win, as she is naturally very fit, but I certainly hadn’t gunned her at home. Guineas Day will without doubt be the biggest moment of my training career and, without sounding big-headed, I have never been one to be scared by the opposition, as you just never know.”

That opposition could include Lady Kaya’s prior Group 1 conquerors Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) and Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who remain among the entries.

With Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) out and Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) on the fence, Fairyland’s stablemate Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never) heads the market for the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas on May 4, and he is one of 30 still eligible. He could be joined by another stablemate in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy winner Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), while the first four home in the G3 Craven S. and the G3 Greenham S. winner Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) also remain engaged. Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Calyx (GB) (Kingman {GB}) both provide plenty of intrigue having not yet raced this season.

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