Saturday, May 01, 2010

1000 Guineas 2010

Following Mafki's shock win in the 2000 Guineas, I won't be getting involved in the fillies' Classic tomorrow. Eighteen have been declared with Criquette Head-Maarek's Special Duty currently heading the market at 4/1. Several have predicted the second leg of a French double but the filly's handler states:' We are not sure she will get the mile.' Luca Cumani's Seta has strong claims but Fallon's mount wouldn't want the ground too quick; the weather forecast suggests there will be rain in the area before the off. Richard Hills, guest on Channel 4's The Morning Line earlier today, appeared quite keen on the chance of his mount Rumoush from Marcus Tregoning's stable - that point is already factored into the 6/1 quoted by several layers. I have plenty of respect for Music Show who won the Nell Gwyn well under Fallon but the jockey has opted for Seta and Mick Channon's yard isn't flying at present. Over the past decade the market hasn't been the most reliable guide to this; granted, two favourites have obliged in that time but seven of the other eight winners have been returned with double-digit starting prices, last year's winner Ghanaati being the biggest at 20/1. A race to watch with the future in mind...

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

High drama in the 1,000 Guineas on Newmarket Heath as the photo-finish showed Henry Cecil's 66/1 chance Jacqueline Quest had passed the post a nose in front of 9/2 favourite Special Duty. A stewards' inquiry was immediately called and after a lengthy delay the placings reversed. Tom Queally on Jacqueline Quest clearly carried the French filly across the course in the closing stages; John Francome thought Cecil's charge would keep the spoils but others begged to differ. After the result, in an interview on Channel 4, the chief steward indicated it had been a fairly easy decision to make - Tom Queally was handed a three day suspension for careless riding. Tom rode his finish with whip in the left hand - I wonder if the result would have been different had he pulled the whip through. For connections of the eventual runner-up, it was an awful way to lose a Guineas. This is the first time a British Classic has been decided by the stewards for thirty years.