Newmarket preview: Dubai Fillies’ Mile (15.10)
Published:
Minding can further enhance her class claims with victory in the Group 1 Dubai Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket (15.10).
The Aidan O’Brien trained filly shaped with plenty of promise when a not knocked about second at Leopardstown, and duly improved for the experience to score easily by five lengths at the same venue.
Minding was then pitched into Group 2 company and ran very well to finish a two length runner-up to stable companion Ballydoyle in the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh.
The beautifully bred daughter of Galileo then gained revenge on that rival when landing the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes over 7f at the Curragh when last seen in action.
After dwelling at the start, Minding took a keen hold and raced up with the pace before being produced to challenge inside the last and score by 3/4 of a length.
Minding was well on top at the finish, and it was an impressive display which saw her cut to 8/1 joint-second favourite by Coral for next years’s 1000 Guineas.
The runner-up has since gone on to land the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on Arc day to give the form a rock solid look, and Minding looks the type who has plenty more to offer and will appreciate the step up top a mile.
Promising Run has a progressive profile and looks sure to make her presence felt, but Nathra may prove the biggest danger to Minding.
The John Gosden trained filly scored in good style on debut at Salisbury when Light Music by 1 3/4 lengths, and the runner-up has since come out and bolted up by 14 lengths at Leicester.
It was a performance which suggested Nathar needed keeping firmly onside, and that view was confirmed when the daughter of Iffraaj cruised to a facile seven length success in a conditions’ contest at Newbury last month.
This demands more, but Nathra clearly has a huge engine and and looks destined to go on to much bigger things.
Coral’s top tip: Minding brings the best form into the contest and is strongly fancied to provide trainer Aidan O’Brien with a fourth winner of the race
