Winner of the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes as a juvenile, Dermot Weld's Tahiyra started favourite for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, despite question marks about her participation until the week of the race. Tahiyra made good headway up the centre of the course and pulled clear of the chasing pack with Mawj, engaging in a thrilling battle with the Godolphin filly all the way to the line with Mawj coming out on top by half-a-length.
Tahiyra achieved Classic redemption three weeks later in the Irish 1000 Guineas, enjoying a straightforward passage through the race and staying on well to beat old rival Meditate by one-and-a-half-lengths. She's arguably the best three-year-old filly in training at the moment and a victory here seems a foregone conclusion.
Meditate returns to the scene of her Albany Stakes triumph twelve months ago and renews her rivalry with old foe Tahiyra. The Aidan O'Brien trained runner is a useful filly in her own right but has been comfortable beaten by Tahiyra in both their meetings to date, including when second in the Irish 1000 Guineas. O'Brien will have to find considerable improvement to reverse the form, although it is something he has achieved with his fillies in the past.
Sounds Of Heaven and Queen For You represent the form of the Listed Michael Seely Memorial Fillies Stakes, having finished first and second respectively in the mile York contest. Sounds Of Heaven was kept prominent in the contest, taking the lead in the final furlong and held on to score by a short head from the fast-finishing Queen For You. Both fillies are capable of improvement and Queen For You's dam Fallen For You won the race in 2012.
Mamma's Girl is an interesting prospect for trainer Richard Hannon after her emphatic two-and-three-quarter length success in the 7f Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket in April. It appears that the ground (soft) did not suit when disappointing in the 1000 Guineas subsequently and a return to a sounder surface may spark a return to best form.
Similar comments could apply to Remarquee, who won the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury before a poor run in the 1000 Guineas. The form of the Fred Darling was given a small boost when second-placed Stenton Glider placed in the Group 2 German 1000 Guineas on her only subsequent start and Remarquee is yet to encounter good ground.
WIN: TAHIYRA
PLACE: MAMMA'S GIRL
