A hugely competitive field line up for the 2024 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday afternoon and a field of 16 fillies will go to post for what should be a cracking renewal. Our in-house Steve Chambers previews the Flat Classic and picks out a value each-way contender at double-figured odds…
FALLEN ANGEL
(Daniel Tudhope/Karl Burke)
Wins in the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket and Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh propelled Fallen Angel towards the head of the betting for the 1000 Guineas and the daughter of Too Darn Hot will be looking to continue her progression at Newmarket. Stepping up to one mile for the first time, she should have no issues with the extra furlong and she certainly has some of the smartest form in the book, so is entitled to be at the head of the betting.
YLANG YLANG
(Ryan Moore/Aidan O’Brien)
Having saddled five of the last eight winners of the 1000 Guineas, Aidan O’Brien has another superb chance of landing the prize with Ylang Ylang, who ended last season with a half-a-length win in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket. That course and distance win is certainly a huge positive and she’s a filly that is entitled to improve again this campaign and with form in softish going any cut in the ground won’t pose any problems.
DANCE SEQUENCE
(William Buick/Charlie Appleby)
A narrow neck winner of the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket last season, Dance Sequence kicked off this season with a creditable second placed finish in the Nell Gwyn Stakes last month at the same track. She is one of the runners here that lines up with a run under her belt this season, so she’s sure to strip fitter for that outing and she has to be a leading contender for trainer Charlie Appleby, who is bidding for his first win in this race.
RAMATUELLE
(Aurelien Lemaitre/Christopher Head)
It’s ten years since Miss France claimed victory for France in this contest, but Christopher Head’s Ramatuelle looks to be a leading contender for the French in 2024 and the Justify filly has some top notch form in the book. She won the Prix Robert Papin last season and kicked off her second with a shock defeat in a Group 3 event on home soil last month, but she should improve for that run and has to be respected.
THE FIELD
Third in the Fillies’ Mile last season, See The Fire will take her chance to try and reverse the form with Ylang Ylang from their last meeting and Andrew Balding’s charge is well fancied to run a huge race here in what is tough betting heat to call.
Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna was hugely consistent last season with four wins and three placed efforts from her seven runs as a two-year-old and she is one that is a fascinating contender. A winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket over six furlongs, she was then second over a mile at the Breeders’ Cup, so she showed she can deal with the extra distance and adds more depth to the race.
A fine winner of the Nell Gwyn last month, Pretty Crystal will be looking to emulate that performance for Richard Fahey, while the unbeaten Cinderella’s Dream will be the second shot fired by the Appleby gun and is another notable contender in what is a wide open renewal.
VERDICT
Experience could be key in the 2024 1000 Guineas and one that has that in bundles is Donnacha O’Brien’s PORTA FORTUNA, who was a stunning winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes last season and she then went to finish second at the Breeders’ Cup. She is available at double-figured odds, at the time of writing and she has to be considered a lively contender to hit the frame. Ylang Ylang lines up for the dominant Aidan O’Brien, who has a fabulous record in this contest and she can chase home Porta Fortuna, with Ramatuelle finishing best of the rest in third.
- Porta Fortuna
- Ylang Ylang
- Ramatuelle
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