FRENCH RAIDER TO LAND GUINEAS
ANDRE FABRE can finally make up for lost time in England by landing the Qipco 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket today with his smart filly ZELLIE (3.40).
Despite being the champion trainer in France a staggering 24 times and sending out eight Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winners, Fabre has won this mile classic just once – courtesy of Miss France in 2014 – but Zellie looks set to add to his amazing worldwide
CV.
Winner of four of her six starts as a juvenile, including the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp, the daughter of Wootton Bassett showed that she had trained on when second to Malavath in the Prix Imprudence last month.
That day she was given a relatively easy time by Olivier Peslier and I suspect this stiffer mile will be enough to see her reverse that form.
Of the home-trained runners, Nell Gwyn heroine Cachet looks too big at a double-figure price, while I think Prosperous Voyage could outrun her odds.
However, the biggest dangers to the French fillies could come from Ireland. Of the Aidan O’Brien pair, Tenebrism is preferred to Tuesday, while the Ger Lyons-trained Juncture will relish this stiff mile after landing a Listed success at Dundalk.
Word has it that SYNDICATED (1.15) has been pleasing Andrew Balding at home and could go close on his debut, while CRENELLE (2.25) may cement her Epsom Oaks’ claims by taking the Pretty Polly Stakes for the Gosdens.
The globe-trotting EBAIYRA (3.00) looks the answer to the Dahlia Stakes.
A close-up second to Wild Beauty in a Newbury novice last year, RIVER PRIDE (5.35) finally found her level at the back end of last year when landing a low-grade handicap off 75 and a 6lb penalty may not be enough to stop her following up at Salisbury.
However, the best bet of the day could come at Hamilton where SHIVRAJ (3.47) can make a winning three-year-old debut in a moderate one-mile handicap. The step-up in trip is exactly what is required and he gets the vote over the race-fit
Kardinya.