QIPCO 1000 GUINEAS

THE Coolmore/Ballydoyle operation is never down for long and on Sunday, with a blistering performance in the Qipco 1000 Guineas, Minding partially erased the disappointment of Air Force Blue’s eclipse in the 2000 24 hours earlier. Not only that, but Ballydoyle and Alice Springs filled the places to give the trainer a clean sweep.

Minding won very easily indeed. Always pressing the leaders, she went on for Ryan Moore over two furlongs from home and quickly drew clear, opening up a winning margin of three and a half lengths despite drifting right.

Alice Springs looked like finishing second as she gave chase but Ballydoyle threaded her way between horses inside the final furlong to claim the runner-up spot close home. Mark Johnston’s Fireglow fared best of the rest.

This result underlined the firm grip that John Magnier’s team has on the most important races and also emphasised Galileo’s pre-eminence as the most important sire of recent times.

He was responsible for all of the first three, a truly remarkable effort and not something that, even with his impressive record over several seasons, should be taken for granted. This was his first British 1000 Guineas winner and completed the set in classics this side of the water.

Minding, a rock-solid 11/10 favourite and always market leader following her similarly impressive triumph in the Fillies’ Mile, is out of the Danehill Dancer mare Lillie Langtry, who won twice at Group 1 level for Coolmore.

There is speed on that side of the pedigree, though the fact that Minding could sit so close to the pace before powering clear suggests she will stay further than a mile.

“It was a very good Guineas, with more Group 1 performers in it than I can remember,” O’Brien said. “It was a great performance to win as she did and she’s a pure homebred so she’s very exciting.”

Interestingly, the Derby was mentioned for Minding almost as soon as she crossed the line and, although the trainer did not commit himself, he was not ruling out taking on the colts. There are 5/2 quotes ‘with a run’. If the Oaks is preferred, Sky Bet were the only firm going odds against with an offer of 11/10.

“I think she’d definitely get a mile and a quarter and fillies who have class will stay a mile and a half but there are a lot of trials to come between now and Epsom. The answer will come shortly,” O’Brien added.

Moore never wastes a word and is seldom bullish, so his assessment should be taken on board.

“She’s as good a filly as I’ve sat on and would stay if she ran against the colts at Epsom,” he said. On the other hand, one of those mulling the matter over will be Michael Tabor who said that, as a traditionalist, he favoured the Oaks.

Minding’s success was a magnificent 250th for O’Brien at Group 1 level and this was only the fifth time a trainer had sent out the 1-2-3 in a British classic race.