Racing Centre

Unbeaten Sense Of Joy among entry of 74 for fillies’ Classic at HQ

Newmarket trainer John Gosden is aiming to add a second Stan James 1000 Guineas victory to his CV with Sense Of Joy (pictured below) set to feature in the fillies’ Classic at Newmarket on Sunday, May 4.

Gosden, based on the Bury Road in Newmarket, won the race with Lahan in 2000. This year he is intending to send the unbeaten Sense Of Joy, who is among an initial entry of 74 – up from 70 in 2007 – for the £375,000 race, run over the NatWest Rowley Mile.

Sense Of Joy broke her maiden in emphatic fashion by making a winning debut on Newmarket’s July Course and then triumphed in the Group Three Prestige Stakes at Goodwood.

She didn’t appear again in 2007 but her form in those two starts was impressive enough to earn a sponsor’s quote of 16/1 for the Stan James 1000 Guineas – a race which Gosden has confirmed will be her target.

"She’ll be aimed to run here in the Guineas," said Gosden. "If it suits she can run in a trial but she doesn’t have to.

"When she ran first time out, she was very professional and scooted up. So I don’t feel in any sense that I’ve got to get the Nell Gwyn or Fred Darling into her.

"But if she is well and happy, we’ll do it. If I think she needs another week or 10 days, she’ll get it."

Gosden also pointed out that Sense Of Joy is a different type of horse to his past Guineas heroine.

"Lahan was a big, powerful and very masculine filly," he outlined. "This filly is very feminine - a lot more light-framed, a daintier model."

Last year’s renewal of the Stan James 1000 Guineas was won in impressive fashion by Finsceal Beo, trained by Jim Bolger. The Irishman once again looks to have a very strong hand for the Classic with both Saoirse Abu and the intriguing Lush Lashes among his entry of six.

Saoirse Abu has impeccable credentials, having landed two Group One contests as a juvenile. She won the National Stakes and also the Moyglare Stud Stakes in 2007 and is a 16/1 shot with Stan James.

The unexposed Lush Lashes won a million euros on her only start in the Goffs Fillies Million - and is as short as 14/1 with Stan James for the 1000 Guineas.

Assessing the pair, Bolger said: "Saoirse Abu has wintered well and is well forward. She looks on target for the 1000 Guineas on May 4.

"The 1000 Guineas is also the target for Lush Lashes. She would have a Guineas trial beforehand, although I am not sure where that would be at the moment.

"The ground will determine where we go with her as we would not want it to be too soft. Apart from that we wouldn’t mind.

"She has wintered well and seems a much stronger filly this year – as you would expect."

The entries include 19 hopefuls from Ireland, eight from France and five from Dubai.

Aidan O’Brien has more contenders entered in the first fillies’ Classic of the season than any other trainer. The Ballydoyle maestro was successful in 2005 with Virginia Waters and he has seven engaged this time, headed by Ascot’s Group One Fillies’ Mile heroine and winter favourite Listen.

The O’Brien contingent includes Newmarket’s Group Two seriousquitters.co.uk Rockfel Stakes winner Kitty Matchem who defeated her once-raced stablemate Psalm at Naas in October. Savethisdanceforme landed a Listed contest at the Curragh in October, having finished fourth in the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp, while Leopardstown maiden winner Halfway To Heaven, a daughter of the top-class mare Cassandra Go, is also a potential contender.

Ger Lyons has entered Group Two Queen Mary Stakes winner Elletelle, while Dermot Weld has engaged Group One Prix Marcel Boussac and Moyglare Stud Stakes third Mad About You as well as Campfire Glow who defeated Listen in the Group Two Ballygallon Stud Debutante Stakes at the Curragh in August.

There is a strong French contingent with Alain de Royer Dupre having entered the unbeaten Zarkava, a brilliant winner of the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp for the Aga Khan.

The Pascal Bary-trained Natagora rattled off four straight wins in France last summer and has already tasted success on the NatWest Rowely Mile, having brilliantly captured the Group One skybet.com Cheveley Park Stakes on October 5.

Jean Claude Rouget is becoming an ever more familiar force in major races and he has engaged five fillies, including Group Three Finnforest Oh So Sharp Stakes runner-up Step Softly.

The home challenge includes the unbeaten James Fanshawe-trained Spacious, who was half a length superior to Kotsi in the Group Two May Hill Stakes at Doncaster in September.

The powerful Godolphin string, which took the prize in 1998 with Cape Verdi and again four years later with Kazzia, has four entries. The pick of trainer Saeed bin Suroor’s quartet is Laureldean Gale, runner-up in the Group Three Prix du Calvados at Deauville in August but no match for Zarkava at Longchamp.

Mick Channon is seeking a first win in the Classic and he has a classy trio entered, comprising of Nijoom Dubai, winner of the Group Three Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, Group Two Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes heroine Nahoodh and Group Three C L Weld Park Stakes winner Eva’s Request.

Sir Michael Stoute has taken the prestigious Classic twice, most recently with the brilliant Russian Rhythm, and the master of Freemason Lodge has three entries this year including Visit, winner of the Group Three Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot.

Trainer John Dunlop and owner Hamdan Al Maktoum teamed up for Stan James 1000 Guineas glory in 1990 and 1991 with Salsabil and Shadayid, respectively. The pair have the unbeaten Listed winner Muthabara, while the owner also has Makaaseb in the care of Michael Jarvis, who won the prize in 2001 with Ameerat.

Clive Brittain knows what it takes to prepare a filly for Stan James 1000 Guineas glory, having saddled Pebbles and Sayyedati to success, and he has entered Group Three skybet.com Sweet Solera Stakes winner Albabilia and Listed UAE Oaks runner-up Love Of Dubai.

Spinning Lucy, winner of the EBF Bosra Sham Stakes at Newmarket in November, York Listed winner Janina and Rockfel Stakes third Royal Confidence could represent Barry Hills, who was successful with Enstone Spark in 1978 and went close with Maids Causeway in 2005.

UAE trainer Erwan Charpy has entered Unilateral, winner of the Group Three Laundry Cottage Stud Firth Of Clyde Stakes at Ayr when trained by Bryan Smart.

Charlie McCann, head of PR for Stan James, said: "In last year’s Stan James 1000 Guineas Finsceal Beo ran The Rowley Mile faster than any filly or colt in the history of either of Newmarket’s two famous Classics. While we are unlikely to get another record-breaking performance on May 4, the 1000 Guineas promises to be another wonderful renewal."

Stan James 1000 Guineas betting: 6 Listen, 13/2 Spacious, 8 Zarkava, 12 Natagora, 14 Lush Lashes, 16 Saoirse Abu, 16 Laureldean Gale, 16 Sense Of Joy. 20/1 bar