Experience vs Pedigree
Lady Blue looks to prove class against I Am Di One in 1000 Guineas today
CHAMPION TRAINER Wayne DaCosta’s LADY BLUE has a posse of four runners from Anthony Nunes’ barn on her trail in this afternoon’s 1000 Guineas, headed by bred-in-the-purple I AM DI ONE, who debuted with an eye-popping victory two weeks ago.Just when DaCosta thought he had put distance between himself and Nunes’ horde, following LADY BLUE’s victory over PRINCESS AVA and fourth-place favourite, CORAZON, in the Thornbird Stakes Guineas Trial, his rival dug into his bag of endless three-year-olds and came up with I AM DI ONE a week later.
Barbadian jockey Simon Husbands enjoyed an armchair ride aboard I AM DI ONE, who romped a six-furlong maiden event for fillies, galloping past MYSTIC MAMA and BLACK RIVER
off the turn, winning under a hand ride, save two backhand reminders a furlong, or so, out.
I AM DI ONE won by eight lengths and clocked 1:14.3, equalling her stablemate, DON ALMIGHTY’s time in Division One of a similar race for colts and geldings, posting exact splits of 23.1, 34.4, 46.3, her 59.2 a fifth quicker than the colt’s 59.3.
That performance, and subsequent workouts, especially Sunday’s 1:13.0 for six furlongs, dismissing PRINCESS AVA (1:13.4), has brought her pedigree to the fore. Bred to get Guineas distance, and farther, I AM DI ONE is sired by Adore The Gold, who has thrown the likes of PRINCESS POPSTAR, who won the Horse of the Year title as a two-year-old; ORPHEUS, who was awarded the Jamaica Derby after FUTURE KING’s disqualification, and, last, but certainly not least, reigning Horse of the Year, WILL IN CHARGE.
On her dam side, I AM DI ONE was foaled by IT IS I, who won the 2008 Governor’s Cup winner (yes, she had beaten the boys, running past DaCosta’s COMMANDER ZERO a furlong out) after finishing second in the 1000 Guineas behind Triple Crown winner ALSAFRA.
I AM DI ONE has trained best of her 11 rivals, twice beating up on PRINCESS AVA, 1:27.2 to her stablemate’s 1:27.3 for a seven-furlong gallop, followed by an impressive 1:13.0, compared with 1:13.4, at six furlongs, six days later.
Considering LADY BLUE had allowed PRINCESS AVA nine pounds and beat her by two lengths in the seven-furlong Thornbird Stakes, I AM DI ONE, out for only the second time, faces a hardened and formidable foe with six runs under her girth.
It will be a fast-run Guineas, which could either play into I AM DI ONE’s hand or drag her off her bridle too early.
Ian Parsard’s SWEET LIKE SUGAR recently tore splits of 23.3, 34.2, 46.1, 58.0, and 1:11.0 in the Monday Morning Trophy, won in 1:25.4 by SENTIENT, a pace which took down DON ALMIGHTY on his second outing.LADY BLUE, a Blue Pepsi Lodge offspring, has speed as her main weapon but can also be rated. Her Thornbird Stakes performance, four lengths clear a furlong out in a six-furlong split of 1:11.0, after ripping 23.3, 34.2, 46.0, most important, increased to 57.4, clocking a final time of 1:26.0, only a fifth slower than TOONA CILIATA’s 1:25.4, which beat colts and geldings in the Prince Consort Stakes, could be a tough act for I AM DI ONE to upstage.
Though I AM DI ONE has the looks, pedigree, and has been catching birds at exercise, she had faced maidens whereas LADY BLUE is battle-hardened and has what it takes for an experienced threeyear-old to get home at a mile pace and a little class.