Coming into this reshaped Guineas prep with a win under her belt for the season, having captured the conditions race formerly known as the Masaka S. over a mile at Kempton Apr. 2, Marenko put that experience to maximum effect as she duly stamped her authority on affairs. After breaking her maiden at the expense of Light Up Our World over this trip at Ascot in July, the imposing bay ran third in the G3 Sweet Solera S. at Newmarket in early August before filling the runner's-up spot in the G3 Prix du Calvados at Deauville later that month. Upped to a mile to run second in the G2 May Hill S. at Doncaster in September, she rounded off her juvenile campaign with an eighth placing in the G1 Fillies' Mile back at Newmarket in October before making all and showing a distinct liking for the Polytrack at Kempton on her winning return. Prominent in second early as Katie's Diamond (Fr) (Turtle Bowl {Ire}) took the race by the scruff of the neck, the homebred was wound up by Ryan Moore to take control from that rival approaching the furlong pole and readily assert to lead home a Hannon one-two as Light Up Our World ended up in Marenko's shadow again. “I think the trip was a little bit on the short side for her, as she's done very well from two to three and she's a scopey filly with a lovely attitude,” trainer Richard Hannon said. “We took her out of the Guineas, as we thought about looking at a listed race at Royal Ascot but that's now obviously not the way forward so we will sleep on it and see where we go from here. Maybe towards the end of the year she might be a Sun Chariot type and she may be one for the [July 8] G1 Falmouth S. at the July meeting, but she's done plenty for now and I'm happy to leave her for a bit. The second will improve massively for going up to a mile and a quarter, but she's not quite there in her coat yet. They are two lovely fillies.”
Saturday, Chelmsford, Britain
BETFRED TV FRED DARLING S.-G3, £45,000, CHD, 4-16, 3yo, f, 7f (AWT), 1:25.64, ft.
1–#@MARENKO (GB), 126, f, 3, by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: Safina (GB) (SP-Eng), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Russian Rhythm, by Kingmambo
3rd Dam: Balistroika, by Nijinsky II
O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-Ryan Moore. £25,520. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-1, $112,912. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Light Up Our World (Ire), 126, f, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Shine Like A Star (GB), by Fantastic Light. O/B-D Boocock (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £9,675.
3–Besharah (Ire), 126, f, 3, Kodiac (GB)–Dixieland Kiss, by Dixie Union. (30,000gns Wlg '13 TATFOA; 85,000gns Ylg '14 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Gerard Kerin (IRE); T-William Haggas. £4,842.
Margins: 1 1/4, HD, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 16.00, 2.00.
Also Ran: Aljazzi (GB), Katie's Diamond (Fr), Rebel Surge (Ire), Veena (Fr). DNF: Nassuvian Pearl (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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