Meditate will get stamina test in English 1000 Guineas

Tahirya shined in Ireland last September, Meditate starred at the Breeders’ Cup in America last November, and Mammas Girl opened eyes last month in England. Three fillies, three countries, and the top three early-betting choices in the English 1000 Guineas on Sunday at Newmarket Racecourse.

Tahiyra went 2 for 2 at age 2, and her 2 1/2-length score over Meditate in the Moyglare Stud Stakes in September probably was the best 2-year-old filly performance in Europe last year. Going a straight seven furlongs over a soft course at The Curragh, Tahiyra raced with cover from the rear of the field, kept quiet by jockey Chris Hayes, who eased his mount outside with about three furlongs left as Tahiyra cruised easily into contention. It wasn’t until a furlong and a half remained that Hayes asked Tahiyra for her best, and the filly, an Aga Khan homebred by Siyouni, delivered a withering run to blast past Meditate.

Meditate made that already impressive performance look even better when she shipped to Keeneland and dominated the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. That was Meditate’s first start over one mile, and a relatively short American homestretch helped her see out the trip. Going a stiff, straight-course mile with an uphill finish Sunday at Newmarket will test her stamina.

Meanwhile, Mammas Girl turned in her own dazzling showing in the Nell Gwynn Stakes, a seven-furlong Guineas prep at Newmarket. Shuffled back to last with a quarter-mile to run, Mammas Girl made her way over to the stands’ side rail under Sean Levey and absolutely flew up the rising ground to win going away by 2 3/4 lengths. The runner-up was a Godolphin filly named Fairy Cross, who also is part of the 20-runner Guineas field.

Fairy Cross is owned by Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby, but the connections’ first-call rider, William Buick, rides Dream of Love. Dream of Love started twice last season at Newmarket but last was seen finishing second in a listed stakes on Jan. 27 at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

The Newmarket course was termed good as of Friday, but rain was forecast to fall Saturday. Post time for the Guineas is 10:40 a.m. Eastern.

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