Hi all,

Inside today's main piece read you can read my 1000 Guineas recap.

I’ve been away for a couple of days so I didn’t watch Qipco 1000 Guineas Day at Newmarket. I missed a treat but hopefully Victor Value subscribers didn’t as I gave them three winners on the day. Friendly Soul, Bague d’Or and 1000 Guineas heroine Elmalka.

I finally got to look at the Newmarket races when I got back home on Monday evening and got a right kick out of Elmalka winning the first fillies classic.

Elmalka 28/1 Qipco 1000 Guineas surprise… But not to everyone

Elmalka had finished strongly when third in the Fred Darling Stakes and was bred to win a Classic which she duly did on Sunday.  I wrote in this column after her Newbury that she would relish the mile and she was the one to take out of the race.

Elmalka looked green at Newbury and her inexperience was in evidence on Sunday. Slowly away from the stalls, she benefited from a strongly run race and a high draw. Despite appearing unbalanced in the dip, Silvestre De Sousa's determined ride helped her collar Porta Fortuna at the finish.

Porta Fortuna who I had thought wouldn’t stay, did and almost got the perfect ride from Tom Marquand.

Another possible no stayer French challenger Ramatuelle took it up a long way from home and yes, jockey Aurelien Lemaitre possibly kicked on a bit too quickly and might well have won if he had held onto her for longer. Still the filly ran her heart out to finish third.

Possible draw bias in play

The first three home were drawn in double digit draws – 16 beat 15, 11, 4, 12, 14. That suggests there was a slight draw bias in action.

The only one drawn in single digits was Tamfana and even she had to be switched near side to get a clear run. If there was an unlucky runner in the race it was her. She lost crucial momentum when not getting a clear run 2f out and given she finished just a length of the winner it was a good effort.

Ylang Ylang as expected, was doing her best work at the finish to take fifth. This was a perfect trial for next month's Epsom Oaks.

Fallen Angel and Cinderella’s Dream made their efforts on the far side but likely weren’t good enough anyway.

Qipco 1000 Guineas Verdict:

In Sunday’s race preview I told Daily Punt readers:

“At very big odds I think the relatively inexperienced Elmalka can get into the money, and she’ll do for me”.

Hopefully some of you were on to.

I'm uncertain about how to interpret the result. Initially, it doesn't strike me as a vintage 1000 Guineas, but I'm willing to give the form a fair assessment.

While I may be biased as I backed Elmalka, I believe the standout performer was the French filly Ramatuelle. Rather than criticizing the foreign-based jockey, as a few pundits did, which would be simplistic, it's important to acknowledge his limited experience on the Rowley Mile, which was evident. However, given how well the filly was travelling, it's understandable why he made the decision he did. I believe keeping her at a mile would be beneficial, as she may fare better going around a bend.

Tamfana faced unfortunate circumstances and likely would have won with clearer running room. Additionally, Ylang Ylang's performance suggests she should be regarded as a strong contender for the Oaks after her showing.

Friendly Soul is a high class filly.

Earlier on the 1000 Guineas card, Friendly Soul, a daughter of Kingman, maintained her unbeaten record with a victory in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes. Under the guidance of jockey Kieran Shoemark, Friendly Soul demonstrated settled well and looked a well-balanced filly when pulling comfortably clear of her rivals with runner-up Kalpana. Considering that the runner-up also had race fitness in her favour, the victory indicates the quality of the winner.

Neither Friendly Soul nor Kalpana is currently entered in the Epsom Oaks, with the likelihood that the winner will be aimed for the French Oaks at Chantilly. However, if Kalpana is supplemented for the Epsom Oaks, she could be a strong contender.

Future Winners

The two Heritage Handicaps featured at Newmarket on 2000 Guineas Day should yield strong form. In the first of these races, Desert Cop (22/1) emerged as a surprise victor in the William Hill Extra Place Races Handicap. Runner-up Apollo One put in another commendable performance and appears poised to secure a deserved victory in a dent handicap pot over 6f. However, the challenge lies in the fact that he’ll face a weight increase despite not winning again. Mum Tipple was on a going day with a fourth-place finish. Summerghand, who caught the eye in a previous start over C&D, faltered to finish 8th on this occasion. Despite being a seasoned 10-year-old, Summerghand can pop up when all the cards fall right. Nonetheless, the standout performer from the race, in my opinion, is the fifth-placed Rohaan.

Rohaan – David Evans.

Rohaan having triumphed in the 2022 Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot and secured a Group 3 victory over the same course and distance later that year. Returning to winning form at Ascot last October further underscores his liking for Ascot’s stiff 6f. Encountering slight interference at the start, he delivered a commendable performance, finishing within 3 ½ lengths of the winner. Just 1lb above his last winning mark, he won’t go up in the weights after Saturday’s run. Barring excessively firm ground at Royal Ascot, he appears primed to contend strongly in this season's Wokingham Handicap.

Torito – John & Thady Gosden

In the William Hill Suffolk Stakes Liberty Lane another winning Victor Value selection proved he didn’t need soft ground to be at his best. He settled better than he has done in recent races, and I think that was the key to his success in Saturday’s race. Dutch Decoy ran another cracker in second. He’ll go up a bit in the weights for not winning but I think he can pop up in a mile handicap this season.  I just think he was outstayed over 1m 1f.

As for standout performers from the Suffolk Stakes, I found myself torn between third-placed Torito and fifth-placed Theoryofeverything.

Theoryofeverything, who impressed in a handicap here last month, would have preferred the ground have not dried out. Nevertheless, this 4-year-old with only eight career starts shows promise for future handicaps with some juice in the ground.

Torito was having his first start since finishing a good 2 ¾ length 4th of 16 in a Group 3 at Royal Ascot. Gelded since last seen he was doing his best work at the finish and should be suited by a return to 1m 2f. He’s surely a future winner, most likely on ground good or quicker.

Tuesday Racing

I must confess, I haven't had the opportunity to review Tuesday's action, but with Chester's May meeting kicking off tomorrow, I'll gladly sit it out.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John