White Moonstone is reported to be well on course for the 1000 Guineas as owners Godolphin seek a third win in the fillies’ Classic at Newmarket on May 1.
Saeed bin Suroor’s charge, who features among 79 entries, won all her four starts as a juvenile culminating in the Fillies’ Mile at Ascot in September.
“White Moonstone is on course for the 1000 Guineas and she is in very good order at the moment. She has developed well with a nice winter in Dubai and she looks in good condition,” the Newmarket trainer said.
“We have put her back into full training and she will do a gallop at the end of March before continuing with the serious work when she returns to Newmarket in early April.
“The going was good to soft when she won the Fillies’ Mile but I think that good ground would be fair enough for her, like she had at Doncaster.
“She won twice over a mile (1600m) as a two-year-old so you would expect her to get further in time, but we will see how she gets on at Newmarket before deciding whether to step her up in distance.”
Suroor has another possible in UAE Oaks scorer Khawlah, but she could skip Newmarket.
“We will keep the options open for Khawlah and she came out of her victory in the UAE Oaks in good heart,” he said.
“We might start her off in the Musidora Stakes at York instead of the 1000 Guineas and take her season from there. She is another nice filly who is improving all of the time.”
Godolphin, whose colours have been carried to 1000 Guineas success by the Suroor-trained Cape Verdi (1998) and Kazzia (2002), could also be represented by the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained Zoowraa, impressive winner of a Listed race at Newbury, plus Blue Bunting and Sunset Avenue from the same stable.
Also taking high rank among the entries is Cheveley Park Stakes winner Hooray from the Sir Mark Prescott stable.
Among 23 Irish-trained fillies is Misty For Me from Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle yard, winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Prix Marcel-Boussac.
Criquette Head-Maarek has lifted the 1000 Guineas four times and the French trainer has Exemplify and Helleborine among the eight entries from across the Channel.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Havant, Richard Hannon’s Memory and the Mick Channon-trained Soraaya are other notable hopefuls.
PA
