With the prospect of facing Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the May 22 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh, there is hardly a rush to join the line up but Now Or Never at least looks a worthy opponent for Ballydoyle's class act after this rout. Racing exclusively at seven furlongs after her debut, the bay was impressive when off the mark at the Galway festival in July before finishing second to Herald the Dawn (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in The Curragh's G2 Futurity S. in August and flopping when last of nine in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. back in Kildare the following month. Returning to be runner-up in the G3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial Apr. 10, where the subsequent G1 1000 Guineas third Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was 2 3/4 lengths back in third, she proved that this Classic mile trip held no fears to gain rave reviews from a revived Kieren Fallon. Tracking the leading duo against the rail early, she was unleashed on the outer turning in and after quickly gaining command bounded clear from the quarter pole. Eased down in the final furlong to flatter the staying-on Radiantly, with daylight back to Emergent in third, Now Or Never will enter her clash with the Newmarket Classic heroine with confidence high and a jockey with big expectations. “I was actually disappointed when she beaten earlier in the year, but she enjoyed this better ground today and really accelerated,” Fallon explained. “We've always liked her and with the exception of Russian Rhythm, she'd be as good as any of the rest of the 1000 Guineas winners I've ridden.” Trainer Michael O'Callaghan added, “I was a bit taken aback by it. Coming round the bend she was on the wrong lead and she switched her legs in the straight and just quickened up. The manner in which Kieren eased her down near the line was great to see. She does not show a lot at home. Blue de Vega (Ger) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is a very good horse, I've always had him as my best in training and she's up there but she's so laid-back and today she looked half asleep. It's proper good ground out there and we've seen her at her best.” Now Or Never's second dam, the MGSW Land of Dreams, is responsible for the G1 July Cup, G1 Prix Morny, G1 Middle Park S. and G1 Prix de la Foret hero Dream Ahead (Diktat {GB}). Like that pair, the third dam Sahara Star also showed dash to win the G3 Molecomb S. and her granddaughter Princess Noor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) also proved fast and precocious when capturing the G3 Princess Margaret S. O'Callaghan admitted to being concerned beforehand as to the trip. “With her pedigree from the family of Dream Ahead, we were not sure she'd get a mile but she got it very well today and I'd imagine a mile will be her optimum trip,” he added. She will go to the Curragh [for the Irish 1000 Guineas] and on good ground will take her chance.” Queenofthefairies also has an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old filly by Zebedee (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
DERRINSTOWN STUD 1000 GUINEAS TRIAL S.-G3, €60,000, LEP, 5-4, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:42.09, gd.
1–#@NOW OR NEVER (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Bushranger (Ire)
1st Dam: Queenofthefairies (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Land of Dreams (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
3rd Dam: Sahara Star (GB), by Green Desert
(10,000gns RNA Ylg '14; £42,000 2yo '15 DONBRE). O-Now Or Never Partnership; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Michael O'Callaghan; J-Kieren Fallon, €35,400. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-0, $96,563. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Radiantly (GB), 126, f, 3, Aussie Rules–Eccentricity, by Kingmambo. O/B-Niarchos Family (GB); T-Willie McCreery. €12,000.
3–Emergent (GB), 126, f, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)">Oasis Dream (GB)–Trojan Queen, by Empire Maker. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Dermot Weld. €6,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 6, HF. Odds: 1.63, 3.50, 7.00.
Also Ran: Siamsaiocht (Ire), Misty Millie (Ire), Kind of Magic (Ire).
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