NEWMARKET

3:20 STANJAMESUK.COM 1000 GUINEAS STAKES (GROUP 1) (FILLIES) (CLASS 1) (3yo) 1m

FRANCESCA D’GORGIO 9-0 ~ After making a shocking debut at Nottingham she ran a much better race at Royal Ascot when finishing 4th in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes. She was still a little green and was outpaced before running on at the finish so she can be rated better than the bare form. The same can be said of her close 5th in the Group 2 Cherry Hinton Stakes as she raced alone on the far side as the principles came up the near side. Again on the July course at Newmarket for an auction maiden she broke her duck in fair style and as a result she still looks to have an unexposed profile. She has yet to race over 6f but she is bred to get a mile so chances todays trip will bring around some improvement. Yards sole entrant in both the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas and Group 1 Coronation Stakes which hints that she is held in high regard.

INFALLIBLE 9-0 ~ Improved considerably on her debut run when winning the Group 3 Nell Gwyn in impressive fashion. It was a fine effort to come from last to first and then show a good turn of foot to run away from the field. No getting away from the fact that it was a poor race though and the time was similar to that recorded by Stimulation in the Free Handicap. That colt had to carry 5lbs more in a race run at a slow early pace so it doesn’t read that favourably. She should stay the extra furlong and despite the form of the Nell Gwyn can be picked at it was still an eye-catching performance and she has to enter calculations.

KITTY MATCHAM 9-0 ~ Looked nothing special in her first three career starts but breaking her maiden seemed to bring around some considerable improvement. Next time out in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes she put in a career best effort to win. It wasn’t a great renewal though and she only just managed to beat Missit and Royal Confidence who wouldn’t have much chance in todays race. She will need to improve considerably to win but she is from a family who progress with time and her connections always warrant plenty of respect.

LADY DEAUVILLE 9-0 ~ Could do with a spot of rain to aid her chances as her best form has come in ground with plenty of cut. On her seasonal reappearance she finished 3rd in the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes but hard to see her reversing the form with the winner Muthabara as that looks to be as good as she is. The form of that race though has been serious let down by Elizabeth Swann and Edge Of Light who were well beaten next time out at Ascot in the Listed Pavilion Stakes.

LAURELDEAN GALE 9-0 ~ Formerly trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam but snapped up by Godolphin when finishing 2nd behind Proviso in a Group 3 at Deauville. She ran as if the step up to a mile would suit but at Longchamp next time out she ran a shocker in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac over todays trip. However she sweated up badly pre-race and was reported to be in “a bad mood” which can apparently be blamed for her disappointing effort. She is reported as being more settled and he is bred to be a far better individual at 3 so not unreasonable to think the filly can put in a career best effort.

LUSH LASHES 9-0 ~ Winner of the Goffs Fillies Million on her debut and it was a fine effort from both horse and trainer. The form looks solid with some decent more experienced fillies in behind but she still needs to improve on that effort to win. She is a lightly raced filly though and is from a family of improvers so isn’t without a chance. However her seasonal reappearance in testing ground at the Curragh was a major disappointment despite the conditions and she has something to prove at present. She is sure to be better on todays ground but Kevin Manning chooses Saoirse Abu and she can be passed over.

MAX ONE TWO THREE 9-0 ~ A quirky individual trained by Tom Dascombe and she definitely has plenty of ability. The way she came from last to first when winning a Listed race at York was visually very impressive. She is a filly who needs to be some cover as her run at Newbury proved when running too freely in a small field. So todays big field is likely to suit and although she has not yet to run over further than 7f she looks to have little problem seeing out the mile trip. Her trainer reports her to be in fine form and the ground shouldn’t be a concern so a lively outsider given her obvious talent.

MUTHABARA 9-0 ~ Unbeaten filly trained by John Dunlop who put in an impressive performance when coming late and fast to win a Sandown Listed event. That was her final run as a juvenile and on her reappearance this season at Newbury she proved she had trained on when producing a similarly impressive performance to win the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes. She didn’t look well in her coat and the ground was against her but she still came with a late rattle to win. The step up to a mile is certain to suit her and she is clearly a talented filly who will only improve on her previous form.

NAHOODH 9-0 ~ An impressive winner of the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York but has reported to have had her problems and wasn’t seen out again last year. On her seasonal reappearance in the Group 3 Fred Darling she ran a shocker to only beat a couple home. She had plenty of excuses though as she didn’t like the ground and drifted like a barge in the betting. Given the form of the yard and the condition of their runners she is sure to come on for the run. One to look out for if looking a picture in the paddock but there is still a cloud over the yard and until she shows otherwise a watching brief is probably the best approach. She is hugely talented on her day though and she is bred to be a miler so not without a chance.

NATAGORA 9-0 ~ Only defeat in her last 7 races came in the Group 1 Prix Morny when beaten by the colt Myboycharlie. Her juvenile form definitely sets the standard in todays race and she is already proved form in Group 1 company. She came over to Newmarket last season and she beat Fleeting Spirit in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes. All her form as a juvenile filly came over 5-6f so stamina must be an issue. She seemed to see out 7f well enough in testing ground on her seasonal reappearance at Maisons-Laffitte but she didn’t really run away from the field at the finish. Her sire Divine Light was more of a sprinter than a miler but she has by far the best form on offer in the race so her class may help her see out the trip. This will be a good test of her ability to stay a mile and the impression is that she should see out the trip although this is sure to be as far as she wants to go.

ROYAL CONFIDENCE 9-0 ~ A progressive filly for Barry Hills and she put in a career best effort last time out in the Free Handicap at the Craven meeting. Racing against the colts she was only beaten a neck by Stimulation when finishing 3rd in a bunched finish. As a juvenile she had finished 3rd in the Group 3 Rockfel Stakes only about a length behind Kitty Matcham but rival has more scope. Royal Confidence will need to improve again to figure but on form she looks likely to stay the mile.

SAOIRSE ABU 9-0 ~ Didn’t look to be the same filly when disappointing on her seasonal reappearance behind Caribbean Sunset. She had been an admiral juvenile filly who had beaten Henrythenavigator in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes. She was a multiple Group 1 winner last year so clearly she possesses plenty enough ability but she has questions to answer regarding her well being this year after her Leopardstown run. She was also exposed in the Group 1 Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile at Ascot when well beaten by Listen and Proviso over a mile and likely to find at least a couple too good again.

SAVETHISDANCEFORME 9-0 ~ Progressive last season and after finishing 4th in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp she destroyed a decent Listed field at the Curragh by 9 lengths. The bare form of that race puts her not far off the top fillies in her age group and she has scope for further improvement. On her seasonal reappearance she put in a more than capable effort when finishing runner-up in the Group 3 Park Express Stakes. On ground that would have been far from ideal she just seemed to tire at the finish. The yards runners have invariably needed the run this season so she is sure to come on after that encouraging effort. Johnny Murtagh prefers Kitty Matcham but Ryan Moore is a more than capable replacement.

SPACIOUS 9-0 ~ A big, scopey filly she was always going to make up into a better horse given time. The bare form of her win the Group 2 May Hill Stakes is nothing special but she apparently works with Cesare at home and has been catching pigeons on the Newmarket gallops. She carries the Cheveley Park Stud first colours in favour of Infallible and the front two in the 2000 Guineas highlight that you don’t need a prep race to figure.

SPINNING LUCY 9-0 ~ Didn’t appear to stay 7f in the Nell Gwyn so this step up in trip doesn’t seem likely to suit. Has plenty of ground to find with Infallible and extremely unlikely to reverse the form with that rival. Did win a decent Listed race over 6f so a return to that trip looks the best option.

CONCLUSION

Of the main four Infallible, Muthabara, Natagora and Spacious the favourite looks the more solid option. Muthabara has suffered a setback which is a concern but she is sure to improve on the form of the Fred Darling. Infallible was impressive when winning the Nell Gwyn but this is tougher and she has to improve again. Spacious has to improve considerably on her two form but the right noises are there. Natagora has won the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes and has already proven his class. The mile shouldn’t be a worry on fast ground so she is the one they all have to improve past.

Of the rest Saoirse Abu would be of interest if able to reproduce her two form and she could run into a place at a price if she does. However her seasonal debut at Leopardstown was a worrying effort and she may have not trained on. Savethisdanceforme ran an encouraging prep race in far from ideal conditions but Johnny Murtagh prefers Kitty Matcham who doesn’t appear anything special judging by the form book. That tempers any enthusiasm for Ryan Moore’ mount but it still not hard to envisage the Danehill Dancer filly being involved in the finish. Max One Two Three is an interesting runner but this is far tougher than anything else she has faced so she might struggle against the cream of the filly milers. Francesca D’Gorgio didn’t have any luck in Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes and Group 2 Cherry Hinton and she is sure to improve for todays trip. Bred to improve and unexposed she could prove a lively outsider for her shrewd yard. Laureldean Gale also hails from a top yard and she had excuses for her disappointing effort in the Prix Marcel Boussac. If in the same mood that enabled her to finish 2nd behind Proviso at Deauville then she should run a big race. This trip is also likely to aid her chances and she comes into the race with a decent chance.

The French raider Natagora looks a solid favourite and she looks the proven class horse in the field. She could prove hard to beat in ideal conditions and she looks an exciting filly. Two at big prices to place though are Godolphins Laureldean Gale and Jeremy Noseda’ Francesca D’Gorgio. They could well surprise a few of the more fancied runners who have question marks hanging over their chances.

2pt WIN – NATAGORA @ 3/1
1pt EACH WAY – LAURELDEAN GALE @ 25/1
0.5pt EACH WAY – FRANCESCA D’GORGIO @ 100/1

RESULT

NATAGORA 1st = +6pts
LAURELDEAN GALE 13th = -2pts
FRANCASCA D’GORGIO 15th = -1pt