Guineas One-Two-Three For Ballydoyle

MIND GAMES ON THE ROWLEY MILE
When you suffer an anti-climax like that provided by Air Force Blue (War Front) in the 2000 Guineas, the best remedy is to return to Newmarket's Rowley Mile and saddle a one-two-three 24 hours later in the G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas S. headed by a filly with claims to the exceptional in Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Left with no cover early as Ryan Moore was forced to race in between two groups, the 11-10 favourite who was so impressive in the G1 Fillies Mile here in October was unperturbed by sitting prominently and when allowed to stride to the front passing the three-furlong pole drew away to win by 3 1/2 lengths. In doing so, Derrick Smith's colour-bearer spearheaded a remarkable tricast for the stable and sire, with Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) finishing a half-length up on Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to mimic the result of last year's G1 Moyglare Stud S. “She's out on her own, really,” Moore said of the emphatic winner. “That wouldn't have been the plan, but we didn't go that quick early on and she hit the gates very well so I didn't want to be taking her back. I was expecting a bit more speed in the race, but she's just faster than them and stays better than them.” Aidan O'Brien added, “They are three top-class fillies and it's a big team effort, so it's great for everybody. We thought she was a very nice filly and we've always thought she'd stay, but obviously we'll talk about the Oaks. She's something to look forward to.”

Sunday, Newmarket, Britain
QIPCO 1000 GUINEAS S.-G1, £523,750, NEW, 5-1, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:36.53, gd.
1–MINDING (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Eng & Ire, $1,361,940), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hoity Toity (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Hiwaayati (GB), by Shadeed
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £297,019. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, 6-4-2-0, $1,136,456. *Full to Kissed by Angels (Ire), GSW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ballydoyle (Ire), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Butterfly Cove, by Storm Cat. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-March Thoroughbreds (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £112,606.
3–Alice Springs (Ire), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Aleagueoftheirown (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (550,000gns Ylg '14 TATOCT). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch-Bages & Longfield Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £56,356.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]Margins: 3HF, HF, NK. Odds: 1.10, 7.50, 16.00.
Also Ran: Fireglow (GB), Nathra (Ire), Turret Rocks (Ire), Mix And Mingle (Ire), Midweek (GB), Jet Setting (Ire), Aljazzi (GB), Epsom Icon (GB), Robanne (GB), Blue Bayou (GB), Illuminate (Ire), Sharja Queen (GB), Lumiere (GB).

Like her accomplished dam Lillie Langtry, Minding started off with a second-placing on debut and her conqueror in that seven-furlong Leopardstown maiden in June was a class act in His Highness The Aga Khan's Tanaza (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who went on to beat Alice Springs in the G3 Silver Flash S. Interestingly dropped a furlong a fortnight later to win by 5 1/2 lengths at that venue, she was re-emerging from a break when two-lengths second to Ballydoyle in the G2 Debutante S. back at seven at The Curragh in August and was therefore expected to play second fiddle to that stablemate when they met up again over the same course and distance in the Moyglare three weeks later. Improving off that comeback effort to switch placings, she was sent here to tackle the Fillies Mile and stamped herself as the firm number one in the pecking order when putting up a sensational display after Ballydoyle had gone to Longchamp to capture the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. The latter's participation had not been cemented until some impressive recent work at home, but there was an overwhelming feeling that despite her solid credentials Ballydoyle would be chasing Minding's shadow once again. Breaking smartly unlike Ballydoyle, Minding was cool in between her compatriots Jet Setting (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) and Turret Rocks (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) as Lumiere (GB) (Shamardal) cut out the running against the stand's rail. Striding past them and to the head of affairs with over two furlongs to race, she needed only to be pushed out to leave a quality field behind and give the upcoming Epsom Oaks a distinctly one-sided feel. “Everything she did as a 2-year-old was very high-class and she's purely our own blood–her mum and dad have been friends with our families for a long time,” O'Brien said after completing a 250th success at the top level. “We know them intimately, which is a massive help. We know that she handles more of an ease in the ground than that, so she's not ground-dependant and like the Galileos, she doesn't stop. We will talk about it, but she has the option of a [G1] Irish 1000 Guineas [at The Curragh May 22] before the [June 3 G1 Epsom] Oaks. We've always thought that she would stay. Ballydoyle was a bit slowly away, but came home well and we thought coming here that Alice Springs might go to France for their Guineas [G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Deauville May 15]. We knew she'd progress from her first run and again from today, while Ballydoyle could go for the Irish Guineas.” Bred as much in the purple as the silks she carries, Minding is the second foal and second black-type winner out of the dual group 1-winning Lillie Langtry, who is also a half-sister to the black-type scorer Count of Limonade (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}). The third dam Hiwaayati is a half-sister to the MGSW sires Great Commotion and Lead On Time, while this is also the family of the champion Vaguely Noble (Ire). Lillie Langtry (Ire) has a 2-year-old full-sister to Minding (Ire) named How (Ire) who was ninth on debut at Naas last week and an unnamed yearling filly also by Galileo.
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.