Newmarket's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. takes centre stage on Wednesday, when a clutch of 1000 Guineas contenders warm up headed by course-and-distance winner Altyn Orda (Ire) (Kyllachy {GB}). Nurlan Bizakov's homebred upstaged the well-regarded Juddmonte filly Gavota (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) in the G3 Oh So Sharp S. in October and is reported in prime condition by trainer Roger Varian. “Altyn Orda is in good shape and it seemed logical to bring her back to Newmarket,” he explained. “To break her maiden in that company was an excellent effort and the form and time of that race look solid. She is entitled to improve again this year and I am very much looking forward to running her.”
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Threading (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was impressive on desperate ground on debut at Glorious Goodwood in August and when following up at the expense of another Varian trainee in Madeline (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in York's G2 Lowther S. later that month. Only seventh on her season finale in this venue's G1 Cheveley Park S. in September, she has proven pattern-race ability and a class edge if things fall right.
Godolphin rely on the mile Ascot novice stakes winner Soliloquy (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and trainer Charlie Appleby is keen to see how she fares as he weighs up his Guineas team.
“Soliloquy has wintered well and this looks a nice starting point to her 3-year-old season to see where to go for the rest of the campaign,” he said. “She won over a mile at Ascot and will be doing her best work at the end of this race. Coming back in distance is not a concern, but we see her optimum distance as being over a mile or a mile and a quarter.” Another who is open to improvement is Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's course-and-distance maiden scorer Nawassi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) from John Gosden's stable responsible for the last two winners of this.
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