The gender pay gap has the subject of many a hot debate in recent months. The All-England club at Wimbledon is leading the way in the sporting world and both the winner of the men’s singles and women’s singles will receive exactly the same amount of prize money this year. However, the gap still exists in racing when it comes to jockeys and opportunities. Hayley Turner and, latterly, Josie Gordon have been trying to redress the balance, taking a lead from America’s Julie Krone among others, but the profession is still male dominated, as have been the training ranks despite the efforts of Jenny Pitman, Henrietta Knight and Venetia Williams.
Prize money for the Qipco 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas also varies to the tune of £47,500 but not in the way you would imagine given the value of a top stallion will usually trump that of a top broodmare.
The fillies’ Classic is the more valuable race which is why it attracts runners from across Europe. In fact, only two English-based trainers have won the race in the last 11 years if you don’t count the disgraced Mahmood Al Zarooni.
1000 Guineas History and Trends
The 1,000 Guineas dates back to 1814 and is a Group 1 race run over 1m for three-year-old fillies. The second of the five English Classics, it is staged at Newmarket in late April or early May each year. Unlike the 2000 Guineas and its influence on the Derby, it’s usually a good trial for the Oaks at Epsom in June with Kazzia, in 2002, and Minding, in 2016, completing the double.
Nearly all recent winners finished in the first three on their previous start and most had won at least twice before with 11 of the last 16 having won on their most recent outing. However, this is not always a race for fancied runners with nine of the last 16 not being among the top three in the betting on the day. Aidan O’Brien has trained the winner on four occasions and three times in the last six years. Owner Hamdan Al Maktoum has seen his colours carried to success five times. Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori have both ridden the winner three times.
Ballydoyle does not have as good a record in this race as the 2000 Guineas but has been taking steps to put that right in recent years and four fillies will try to extend their winning sequence to three this year. Happily is a general 5/2 and her form last season was top class. She won the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and the Gran Criterium at Chantilly before trying her luck in the Breeders’ Cup. She’s bred to be a champion and it’s unlikely she’ll fail through lack of fitness so is preferred to stablemates I Can Fly, Sizzling and Sarrocchi.
Laurens is a worthy challenger from the north as she was only beaten once last season and won the Group 1 Fillies Mile over the course and distance of the 1000 Guineas in October – Karl Burke’s filly is a stand-out 9/1 with Coral. Liquid Amber dented a few reputations when storming home in a Group 3 at the Curragh in August and Willie McCreery’s entry can be backed at 14/1 with William Hill.
Soliloquy won the Nell Gwyn, normally a good trial for this, last month, beating Altyn Orda and Billesdon Brook, but third Eirene has been beaten since so the 6/1 with Boylesports may not be much value. Charlie Appleby also runs WILD ILLUSION and she’s been the largely forgotten filly of this year’s race.
I can’t understand why the daughter of Dubawi should be 9/1 with Coral unless it’s the fact that William Buick has chosen to stick with Soliloquy. Last year’s win in the Prix Marcel Boussac was no fluke and the second had earlier beaten Laurens at Deauville. She won over a straight mile at Yarmouth on her debut and appears to handle any going so a big run is anticipated. Dan’s Dream would be a dream winner for the charity she represents but she’s improving fast and could pick up some nice prize money towards a worthy cause at the general 14/1.
Qipco 1000 Guineas Current Best Odds
Happily 5/2, Soliloquy 6/1, I Can Fly 7/1, Laurens and Wild Illusion 9/1, Dan’s Dream, Anna Nerium and Liquid Amber 14/1, Altyn Orda 16/1, Madeline, Sarrocchi, and Sizzling 33/1, Billesdon Brook, Vitamin and Worship 50/1
