Revealing's classic bid hinges on fitness test

Lydia Hislop13 April 2012

Revealing, third favourite for the Sagitta 1,000 Guineas, will miss the fillies' classic unless her homework dramatically improves over the next week.

The Henry Cecil-trained filly is lagging behind stable companions Half Glance - beaten into fifth under an uninspiring ride by stable jockey Richard Quinn in the Nell Gwyn Stakes two days ago - and Protectress in their preparation for Newmarket's mile classic in just 17 days' time.

All three fillies are owned by Prince Khalid Abdulla. Racing manager Teddy Beckett counted out the option of pitting the trio against each other in the Guineas, but suggested the famous green-and-pink sashed silks could be doubly represented in the £300,000 Group One event.

"At the moment we are still hoping to get to the Guineas, but Revealing will have to do something serious within the next week," said Beckett. "She's an angular, unfurnished filly who's been slow to come to hand this season. She still looks quite wintery. We're hoping this week's sunny weather will bring her on.

"She wouldn't be that far behind Protectress, who looks well. But we want to rely on the best filly we can in the Guineas. We didn't learn much from Half Glance's run - there was no pace and I don't think they'd finish in that order again. She likes fast ground but the French 1,000 Guineas remains an option for her."

If Revealing were to miss the Guineas, the Vodafone Oaks on 7 June could become her next big target.

"Ultimately it looks as though Revealing will stay beyond the mile Guineas trip," said Beckett. "That's the way we would be thinkingif she isn't ready for the Newmarket race. She's actually only won a maiden in her entire career, so we're feeling our way with her."

Sundrenched, the welltouted filly who finished second to Revealing on their seasonal debuts at Newmarket last September, definitely misses the Guineas.

Trainer William Haggas has pinpointed the nine-furlong Prix Vanteaux at Longchamp on Sunday week for her comeback run, with Michael Hills in the saddle. Although Epsom's Oaks has not yet been discounted from calculations, her handler is not convinced Sundrenched will stay the 12-furlong trip.

"Sundrenched is unlikely to run in the Guineas," said Haggas. "My feeling is she wants further than a mile. She's a possible for the French Oaks because I'm not sure fast ground and the Epsom track is what she wants to do. I also wonder whether she would stay a mile and a half."

Chantilly's Prix de Diane Hermes - known as the French Oaks - is staged two days later than the Epsom event and, crucially, over almost two furlongs shorter. Haggas is more inclined to consider the Irish Oaks on 14 July if Sundrenched's French outing suggests she will stay 12 furlongs.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in