1000 Guineas Preview : Will Quadrilatical be in the shape to win?

Last Updated : 5th June, 2020 By Steve A

VENUE

Newmarket

TIME

3.35 on Sunday 7 June

BROADCAST

Live on ITV

See Stats

The delayed 2020 flat season has only been running for a week. It's been an action-packed one though wih the Guineas Festival taking place at Newmarket. It ends on Sunday 7 June with the main race being the 1000 Guineas. It looks an open race, so let's look at the main contenders.

Quadrilateral Aims to Extend Unbeaten Record

Quadrilateral is a bit of a mouthful and might just bring back a few nightmares of maths lessons at school. However, it's also the name of the favourite to win the 1000 Guineas whio just happens to be the daughter of the legendary Frankel. Trained by Roger Charlon, the favourite is unbeaten in two races. That includes winning the Group 1 Fillies Mileahead of Love, so getting the distance won't be a problem at all.  The filly stayed on well in that Group 1 race, so a bold showing on Sunday looks more than likely. 

Will You be after Love on Sunday?

Aidan O'Brien has seen one of his runners win this race three times in the past four years. He'd love to win it again and Love just happens to be the name of his leading contender. Her career didn't get off to the best of starts with no wins in her first two races. The improvement came though and Love won a Group 3 race and then the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh over seven furlongs.  a Group 3 race before a disappointing fifth as she stepped up to Group 2 company.  On her last appearance, Love came third behind Quadrilateral in the Fillies Mile. That was on good to soft ground though and she only has just under two lengths to find on the favourite. Being O'Brien's only runner in this race, 

Murphy Bids for Glory

Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy is on board Millisle for the first time. As a two-year-old, Millisle won three of her five races. The best performance came when winning the Group 1 Cheveley Stakes.  A listed race at the Curragh was also won and a second place in a Group 3 contest. Will this contender last out the mile? So far, the furthest Millisle has traveled is six furlongs, so there are questions to be answered. Her sire Starspangledbanner did win the Caulfield Guineas in Australia and that was over a mile, so getting the distance looks likely.

A Lucky Raffle Prize Perhaps?

Mark Johnston bids for a first 1000 Guineas triumph since 2004 with Raffle Prize. As a two-year-old,  this contendeer won three of her six races. Her biggest success was in landing the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Asot.  That was a Group 2 contest and another win at that level followed in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes. Raffle Prize stepped up to Group 1 losing by a neck at Deauville. Her last reace of the season was the Cheveley Stakes at Newmarket, where she finished second behind Mllisle, so has a couple of lengths to find on that rival. That was on good to soft ground though

Dettori Chases Another Classic Win

Frankie Dettori has ridden three winners in this race, the last being in 2011. He's on Shimmering on Sunday and the John Gosden trained filly has only run twice with one win in Class 5. However, this is her first race on turf as both those victories came on the all-weather. Currently 16/1 at Ladbrokes, that price is likely to shrink becaue of its jockey. Her sire is Lope de Vega who won a Group 1 race at Chantilly over a mile and also ran over a mile-and-a-half, so Shimmering is an interesting runner and her last run was only six months ago.

Conclusion

This is an open race and could easily be won by a horse at a decent price. Quadrilateral is a worthy favourite and looks worth backing. Raffle Prize is the one that interests us most though. A good win at Royal Ascot and only just lost out in France. Second in the Cheveley Stakes, but that was on good to soft ground, definitely worth an each-way bet at a good price.