Minding a class apart at English 1,000 Guineas and Usherette takes Dahlia Stakes

NEWMARKET, ENGLAND // Minding led home stablemates Ballydoyle and Alice Springs to celebrate Aidan O’Brien’s 250th Group 1 winner in style in the English 1,000 Guineas on Sunday.

Minding proved a class apart as she powered clear in the final 200 metres under Ryan Moore to become the Irish trainer’s third winner of the fillies’ Classic.

Fireglow, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed who was present with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, was fourth ahead of Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah’s Nathra. The Crown Prince’s Lumiere finished last after going hoof-to-hoof with Minding in the early stages.

Minding, a daughter of legendary sire Galileo, was already favourite for the English Oaks next month, but her aura of invincibility is such that there were mutterings about a possible tilt at the colts at Epsom.

That is all early talk, but by the way she motored out of the famous Rowley Mile dip to finish three and half lengths clear of Seamie Heffernan’s mount the step up from 1,600m to 2,400m does not look an issue.

“She’s out on her own, really,” said Moore, who was winning his third Guineas. “She’s just faster than them and stays better than them. She’s faster than them all.”

Read more: Breathtaking Galileo Gold edges Sheikh Hamdan's Massaat in English 2,000 Guineas

Also see: Sheikh Hamdan's Lumiere in for fight with Minding in English 1,000 Guineas

O’Brien was also winning his third Guineas and has won the Oaks five times and the Irish trainer all but confirmed Minding would head to Epsom, although possibly via the Irish Guineas on May 22.

“We’ve always thought she’d stay but obviously we’ll talk about the Oaks, as you would,” he said. “She’s something to look forward to.”

Earlier in the day, Godolphin France struck with the impressive filly Usherette, who won the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes for trainer Andre Fabre and Mickael Barzalona.

Usherette held off the persistent challenge of Arabian Queen, ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, and could return to England next month for the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Chautauqua could also be heading to the royal meeting after he stamped his authority on the world sprinting division when he came from last to first to seal the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong on Sunday morning.

The Australian raider was remarkably slow out of the gates as Al Quoz Sprint winner Buffering set a searing pace in a speed duel up front with Meydan rival Peniaphobia, with the pair going 23.34 seconds through the first 400m.

On the turn Chautauqua was still last, but the combination of the fast early pace, a traffic jam on the rail and significant scrimmaging that saw the chances of Notlistening’tome evaporate resulted in Tommy Berry sailing past his 13 rivals for a decisive success.

“I wasn’t worried that we were so far back given the speed but I was concerned how he came off the bit earlier than he usually does.” Berry said. But he overcame that because he’s a very special horse.”

As a sign of how brutal the early speed was, Peniaphobia faded in to 12th, ahead of the eight-year-old Buffering, who was later found to be lame in his off fore fetlock by the Hong Kong Jockey Club vets.

“It was a little disappointing,” said Buffering rider Damian Browne. “We went very hard early and that meant he faded in the run but I think maybe it’s a case of it being at the end of a long prep, with the travel to Dubai and here, and he’s not getting any younger.”

Chautauqua’s trainer Michael Hawkes confirmed that the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot was now very much in the picture.

Maurice also laid down his claim of being the world’s best miler when the Japanese raider won the Champions Mile on his first start since he won at Sha Tin in December. Godolphin’s Safety Check was fifth.

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