Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas Guide 2021

Joseph O’Brien is chasing his very first 1000 Guineas win and holds strong claims here through his top prospect, Pretty Gorgeous.

She acts on soft having won a Group 2 (7f) at Curragh as a 2 year old before winning again on soft last time out in the Bet365 Fillies Mile (8f, G1).

The form from the latter of those runs has worked out superbly with numerous runners, such as the likes of British 1000 Guineas winner Mother Earth, Dubai Fountain and Snowfall all going on to score since.

The daughter of Lawman and Lady Gorgeous is a big scopey sort, certain to have improved and grown into her frame during the winter layoff.

She marks her return on the back of a 226 day break, skipping the British 1000 Guineas in preference of returning here. Big chance.

Joan Of Arc looks a big player in this for Aidan O’Brien who is a 9 time winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

She was ultra impressive in the Guineas Trial (8f, G3) last time out, making all as a strong front runner and keeping on well to the line.

The daughter of Galileo, the most successful source of Group 1 winners in thoroughbred history, has won on soft/heavy in a bigger runner field at Curragh prior to this, showing she acts both at the track, and under testing conditions.

She makes lots of appeal however she won’t have it her own way again out front and rivals will be keen on tracking her closely.

Ryan Moore gets the leg up

Richard Fahey brings Fev Rover across the Irish Sea for her hand at the Irish 1000 Guineas on the back of a really impressive run in the British event at Newmarket.

She finished 3rd that day, on good to firm conditions, quite unexpected given her performances upon testing ground, thereby giving connections a lot to shout about ahead of the affair.

She won a Group 2 (7f) in France on her penultimate run last year and should strip fitter from her comeback run last time out.

Right in the mix of things with usual jock Paul Hanagan booked…

Miss Amulet was ruled out right at the last minute in the French 1000 Guineas last week and trainer Ken Condon will want to set things straight with her as she comes straight to Curragh to run here.

The daughter of Sir Prancealot was progressive over sprint trips last season winning a listed race and a Group 2 (6f) at York, proving her natural speed.

She was subsequently upped in trip for the Breeders Cup Juveniles Fillies race in the US (8f, G1) and ran a big race into 3rd, losing out by a neck for the runner-up spot behind British 1000 Guineas winner, Mother Earth, representing some strong form.

Despite all this, she is untried over anything more testing than yielding/good to soft ground and may struggle upon the heavy conditions.

If dealing with them however, she’s a player with Irish flat champion jockey Colin Keane on board.

Jessica Harrington is represented in the race by No Speak Alexander who is not without a chance in the Guineas.

The 3yo filly was impressive on her return last time out in the Athasi Stakes (7f, G3) here at Curragh, keeping on well to win readily and beating the likes of Group 1 winning Champers Elysees.

That was a big run and she should strip fitter from the run, thereby meaning further progression is a big possibility now upped to 8f.

She copes fine with the heavy conditions and she holds big each way claims in this.

With just 3 runs under her belt, the Aidan O’Brien trained Empress Josephine offers a very interesting proposition in the 1000 Guineas.

She clearly has bags of potential in order to even be considered to be entered in the race after such few runs and she was eye-catching on debut to land a big field maiden at Naas (8f).

That run was under soft conditions showing she should handle the terrain, whilst she was also upped to 9.5f last time out to finish 2nd in a listed race to show her stamina capabilities.

The daughter of Galileo may need more experience to land a race in this sphere and it does represent a large increase in class.

Having said this, she may just surprise a few and represents Ballydole so is always considered in this one.

Paddy Twomey is on the hunt for his first Irish 1000 Guineas success and is represented by Fantasy Lady.

The daughter of Dark Angel won a listed race on her final run as a 2yo (8f) under soft conditions so should run fine on the ground.

She subsequently returned with a 4th placed finish on her reappearance in a Group 3 affair (8f) before finishing 5th last time out in the Irish Guineas Trial at Leopardstown (8f, G3).

That most recent run was 4 1/2 lengths behind re-opposing rival Joan Of Arc and to put that into perspective, shows how much Fantasy Lady will need to find to be involved here.

Jessica Harringtons second entry is Zaffys Pride who makes her first attempt at the 8f distance here.

The Pride of Dubai filly has proven her natural speed by winning over 6f as a 2yo and subsequently progressed by landing a listed race over 7f.

She returned from the winter for her 4 year old season with a 4th placed finish in a group 3 (7f) before improving on that finish to come 2nd last time out (7f, G3) under soft conditions.

She is entitled to progress again now upped to 8f, however has 1 1/2 lengths to find on re-opposing rival, No Speak Alexander, who got the better of her last time out.

J P O’Brien’s second entrant is Sense of Style who placed in a listed race (8f) on her final run as a 2yo under soft ground conditions.

The daughter of Zoffany returned from winter training for her 3yo season with a 3rd placed effort in a British 1000 Guineas trial, however has opted to go for the Irish Guineas instead.

Her trial for the Irish Guineas didn’t go quite as planned, with just a 6th placed finish behind Joan Of Arc, Fantasy Lady and Thinking of You.

This form may be up for reversal however with her last 2 runs having been on quicker ground and the return to testing conditions may just suit her better.

The third J P O’Brien entrant is Thinking Of You who’s best form as a 2yo was a placed effort in a group 3 event at Curragh (7f).

The American Pharaoh filly returned from her layoff for an attempt up at 10f, which didn’t quite work out with a 9th placed finish.

She was subsequently much better back at 8f last time out in the Irish Guineas trial, finishing 3rd at 40/1 behind Joan Of Arc.

JP O’Briens 3yo clearly has stamina to be considered for 10f and has acted in soft before, giving hope for heavy to suit here.

Another not without a chance and rounds off a strong trio of JP O’Brien entrants, although does have some ground to find on Joan Of Arc.

AP O’Brien has a huge outsider in the field in the form of Friendly who sits at 100/1 in the market at the time of writing.

The daughter of Galileo seems fairly versatile ground wise, however he current form only represents maiden races as she’s currently 0-7 and looking for her first win.

That form is completely off the pace for what is expected from a potential classic winner.

Belle Image proved her natural pace as a 2yo, winning over 6f for trainer Sheila Lavery.

She returned for her 3yo season with a 5th placed effort in a group 3 (7f) behind No Speak Alexander and Zaffys Pride, before finishing a well beaten 2nd next time out when dropping down in grade.

Based on the level of her prior runs, she has a lot o find here and the Irish 1000 guineas represents a huge hike in class for her.

John Joseph Murphy runs Sweet Gardenia in the Irish 1000 Guineas who landed a listed race at 25/1 on her penultimate run prior to a layoff.

That run was at Tipperary however and her Curragh form only reads: 07406 leaving a huge question mark over his ability to act here.

The race also represents a big hike in grade for the runner and she looks to be out of her depth.

David Henry Bergin tries his hand at Irish Guineas glory through sole representative and long shot outsider, Sziget.

She placed in a group 3 (8f) on her seasonal re-appearance however has gone backwards since with two lesser runs.

On her latest outing she was 3 1/2 lengths behind re-opposing rival Belle Image and that race looks below the expected standard here, needs to take a huge step forward to be involved.