FILLIES CHARGED & READY FOR THE COMPETITIVE INDIAN 1000 GUINEAS, GR.1

The stage is set, excitement brewing, as the contenders gear up for the running of the first Indian Classic of the season the StyleCracker Indian 1000 Guineas, Gr.1. When the Bangalore Summer season drew to a close it seemed impossible to look beyond the champion of that season, Well Connected. Several unimpressive performances later and the emergence of other star fillies on the scene has made this Classic very open, certainly competitive with outstation challengers invading with serious intent. Reviewed are the top contenders in order of their rating.

ANJEZE (Win Legend-Angelique) b f rated 80
She is ready, set, and in hot form having recently won the Bangalore 1000 Guineas, her fourth win from six starts. She had a bad summer, beaten by Well Connected by 3 lengths in the Fillies Championship Stakes and then seventh in the Derby, an astonishing 17 lengths behind Well Connected. While her nemesis raced during the monsoon season, Anjeze was rested before her preparation for the winter campaign started, and she has vindicated that strategy coming out and winning the Bangalore 1000 Guineas in 1:36.08s beating Gift Of Grace by a neck and turning the tables on Well Connected, this time beating her by 2¾lengths. She may be seen attempting the southern circuit and may not visit Mahalaxmi just yet, but if she does she will be a front line contender.

COSMIC RAY (Burden Of Proof-Corsican Gal) ch f rated 78
She shed her maiden status on her first outing beating Victorious Sermon, Sir Supremo and Southern Ruler in Bangalore. Then she came fourth to Well Connected, Thailand and Anjeze in the Fillies Championship Stakes in Bangalore 5½lengths behind the winner. The Derby trip did not suit her for she finished over 8 lengths behind Well Connected. Her victory in the Mysore 1000 Guineas brought her on the map enhancing her reputation that she has improved on her past performances. Again tried over Derby trip she proved that she disliked the distance. Back to her favourite distance she is in with a ray of hope.

GIFT OF GRACE (Speaking Of Which-Appeasing) b f rated 76
After winning her maiden outing over 6f she has come second on four occasions in Terms races. Second to Victorious Sermon by 5½ lengths; second to Well Connected in the Deccan Fillies Championship Stakes by a short-head; second to My Journey in Chennai by 2¾lengths and finally second to Anjeze by a neck in the Bangalore 1000 Guineas. She has already raced at three centres and Mahalaxmi will be her fourth. With David Egan in the saddle she will looking to break the spell of ‘seconditis’ by clinching the title.

WELL CONNECTED (Arazan-Guest Connections) b f rated 75
She was the absolute star of the Bangalore Summer season and kept the form up winning the Deccan Fillies Championship Stakes during the monsoon season. She then failed to reproduce that form in the Deccan Derby finishing fourth to Consigliori by 3½lengths. Back on home turf she ran the Bangalore 1000 Guineas as favourite but could not match strides with the winner Anjeze and Gift Of Grace, finishing third, 2¾lengths behind the winner. With David Allan in the saddle she will try her best to reproduce her Bangalore form but she will not only be taking on the horses that beat her in the Guineas in Bangalore as she will also have to contend with the stiff Western India challenge.

THAILAND (Top Class-Immortal Story) b f rated 69
The winner of one race from seven starts is wanting to change all that. She has already travelled from Mumbai to Bangalore and Mysore and is now coming back to her place of origin to prove a point. She beat Missing You on her first outing and since then has always run with good company never getting the better of them. Third to Kariega in the Forbes Breeders’ Juvenile Fillies’ Championship by 4¾ lengths; second to Anjeze in the Sir Cecil Youngsters Million by 5¾ lengths; second to Well Connected in the Fillies Championship Stakes in Bangalore by 1½ length; third to Well Connected and Gift Of Grace in the Deccan Fillies Championship Stakes by ¼length and in her final start in the Mysore 1000 Guineas she finished fourth to Cosmic Ray by 3¾ length. She has a tough task ahead of her.

MISSING YOU (Arazan-Change Of Luck) b f rated 67
The impressive winner of the Poonawalla Breeders Multi-Million made the trip to Bangalore for the Fillies Classic, but unfortunately could not achieve what she had set out to do. If there are horses for courses well she is a filly that showed that she was never comfortable there. Brought back to Pune she was brought back to form with another impressive performance winning the General Rajendrasinhji Million run over the mile which she won in 1:36.90s by 3¼lengths beating Majestic Warrior, Kariega, Mystic Bay and Nekhbet. In preparation for this Classic she was raced over the 7f trip in a Class 2 race getting beat on the line. A frontline contender in this race she is ready to offer a stiff challenge.

JULIETTE (Musketier-Gimmesumsugar) b f rated 63
She won her second outing beating Victorious Sermon then finished fourth in the Poonawalla Breeders Multi-Million, 2¾lengths behind Missing You. She then had a long absence from the track, and though not raced, she was meticulously brought into great form with the aide of mock races, which she showed when she came out and won the Maharaja Of Morvi Trophy beating Sultan Suleiman and Alexei, both aspirants for the colts Classic, showing a fantastic turn of foot. Winning this 7f contest in 1:22.89s she will be a top contender for the title. Partnered once again by ColmO’Donoghue, she has worked well in preparation for this race and is aspiring to run away with the title.

MIRABILIS (Multidimensional-You Are My Miracle) b f rated 54
The winner of two of her seven starts, she finished third to Golden Guest in the F D Wadia Trophy and on her last start and first in Mumbai, she won a Class 3 race over 7f beating Golden Hind by two lengths. She appears to lack the experience and ability that other contenders in this race possess. 

HUNT FOR GOLD (Leitir Mor-Pleasure Hunt) b f rated 52
After winning the Breeders Produce Stakes, her second win from as many starts she finished 2 lengths behind Missing You in the Poonawalla Breeders Multi-Million just ¾ lengths ahead of Juliette. Her Bangalore Summer campaign proved to be very disappointing but there was hope after returning to her home turf that she would begin a return to form. She was brought out in open company in Pune and was beaten by Pablo in a Class 3 race over 7f by 2¼ lengths. She has had a set of issues which have been worked on, and prepared for this Classic with a mock race which she won, so her connections are hoping that this will make the difference.

KARIEGA (KingdaKa-Smoke Ring) b f rated 50
She won the Forbes Breeders’ Juvenile Fillies’ Championship in Mumbai by an impressive four lengths then raced in Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad without success. Third to Missing You in the General Rajendrasinhji Million over the mile by four lengths,she was then sent to Hyderabad to try her luck in the Golconda 1000 Guineas. She found the pace slow and finished in fifth, 2½ lengths behind the winner Paso Robles. Her connections are now hoping for a sounder pace and a better race.

SUNRISE RUBY(Whatsthescript-Venus Arising) b f rated 47
Lowly rated and sparingly raced she shed her maiden status on her second outing, and then won her second race in Pune in Class 3 company, beating Majestic Warrior by 1¼lengths. If she decides to run she would find the opposition very daunting.

QUESTINA(Phoenix Tower-Meadowlark) b f rated 44
A bit of a temperamental filly she has been raced thrice over the 6f trip, winning her last outing beating Despacito by ¾length.