Connections of Touleen have not ruled out the 1000 Guineas for Touleen after finishing second in the Fred Darling Stakes, but would not be adverse to the idea of stepping up beyond the mile.
The Lope De Vega filly looked smart when winning twice over seven furlongs last season. She was sent off favourite for the Rockfel Stakes, but a dirty scope provided an excuse for the defeat. Touleen was well backed again on her return, and looked as if she was coming with a winning run. However, the eye was caught by the strong travelling Sukanya, who provided the sharper turn of foot to win.
The defeat has left connections pondering over her next step, as she lacked the ‘explosive’ speed she’s shown at home. Speaking to the Racing Post on her effort, Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold said: “The way she behaved and the way she settled was positive. But the only thing she didn’t do was quicken to win the race. If it turns out that she’s more a middle-distance filly, then it was a very good run.
“The one thing that surprised us was that we’ve seen what Saffie described as ‘explosive speed’ from her at home. For whatever reason we never saw that yesterday. Last year on her first two starts she quickened. I think we all expected her to quicken better at Newbury, but she didn’t.”
Team to ‘reflect’ before making Guineas decision
Despite failing to mirror the turn of foot she’s shown at home, Gold believes there are still positives from Newbury. “When you look at her pedigree, she’s by Lope De Vega out of a Dansili mare. The granddam was placed in the Park Hill. So if it turns out she’s a potential Oaks filly, then yesterday was a very good run against a filly who quickened better than her.”
Touleen has doubled in price for the 1000 Guineas, but Gold hasn’t ruled out the contest. “We need to reflect a bit and see how she is. We’ll give her a quiet week and probably work her the following week. If everyone thinks she’s bouncing and has come out of it really well, we can press on toward the Guineas. If they feel now she’s more of a staying-type filly, we’ll probably go a different route.”
The winner, Sukanya, doesn’t have an entry in the 1000 Guineas and would have to be supplemented. She does however have an entry in the Irish 1000 Guineas, and that may be her next test.