Well Noble Mission missed out but Thistle Bird defied my concerns and lifted the Pretty Polly. I didn’t think she was truly Group 1 and although she handled the longer trip I think her success was more due to a lack of overall quality amongst the opposition.
Marvellous didn’t run and last year’s winner Ambivalent hasn’t struck me as a true group 1 filly and that is why I wanted to lay Thistle Bird rather than back Roger Varian’s runner. I think this is a race that has been won by Group 3, or 2 at best, fillies this past two seasons and the presence of the disappointing Just The Judge in third bears that out in my mind. She was the Irish Guineas winner last year but has shown little since then and the fact that she was due to run in a handicap at Royal Ascot says an awful lot about a Group 1 race when she can finish ahead of the previous year’s winner.
Mark Johnston’s impressive Newmarket 2yo winner
Muraaqaba
has gone largely unheralded but this daughter of Dubawi out of Nufoos did it well and should improve. I would be interested to see if they stick to 6f with her or step up to 7f in time. She has entered the 1000 Guineas betting at 25/1 and must be watched next time for further clues.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.