Hello from Newmarket! The 1,000 Guineas, which, by the way, is the youngest of all the Classics at a youthful 211 years old, is set to kick off at 3:35 PM today. This race promises a highly anticipated matchup between Desert Flower and Lake Victoria, both of whom were unbeaten Group One champions in their two-year-old seasons last year.
This gathering also showcases the two dominant forces in European racing: Desert Flower represents Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin stable—fresh off victories not only in the 2,000 Guineas yesterday but also in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs a few hours later. Meanwhile, Lake Victoria races for Aidan O’Brien, the reigning champion trainer, who unfortunately saw his sole runner in yesterday’s Classic come in ninth.
Today’s Classic features a strong field of ten, including Duty First, who recently won the Fred Darling Stakes decisively at Newbury, and Ger Lyons’s Red Letter. Red Letter finished fourth behind Lake Victoria in last year’s Moyglare Stud Stakes but had a tough time during that race, ultimately losing by less than a length and a half. There’s also an interesting “dark” horse, Elwateen, daughter of Dubawi, with just one previous all-weather start at Kempton last summer.
Other events on the card include the Pretty Polly Stakes at 1:45, featuring several lightly-raced fillies eyeing the Oaks at Epsom next month. Last year’s 1,000 Guineas winner, Elmalka, will also be competing in the Dahlia Stakes at 2:20.
The Pretty Polly is about to start in just an hour. We’ll have video form for all main Classic contenders here on the blog soon, along with live updates covering all the latest news, insights, and betting shifts.
