Mot Juste prepping for 1000 Guineas in Nell Gwyn Stakes

Mot Juste, the Kentucky-bred Distorted Humor filly, is climbing her way toward the top of the British 3-year-old filly division.

Last fall, Mot Juste won her final two starts on courses with uphill finishes, including the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at seven furlongs at Newmarket last October. On Tuesday, Mot Juste will be favored to win her 2019 debut in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Newmarket.

The course has a distinct uphill finish that can test the stamina of runners of any class.

Mot Juste has won 2 of 4 starts for trainer Roger Varian. Last September, she won her third career start in a race for 2-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs at Beverley Racecourse in northern England, which also has a stern uphill finish.

Varian also runs the well-regarded Qabala, who won her lone start in a maiden race at seven furlongs at Newmarket last September.

The $78,400 Nell Gwyn Stakes is a prep for the Group 1 1000 Guineas at a mile on the same course at Newmarket on May 5. None of the fillies in the Nell Gwyn is among the favorites in the future-book for the 1000 Guineas – Just Wonderful, Skitter Scatter, and Fairyland.

Just Wonderful, trained by Aidan O’Brien, was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs last November.

In the Nell Gwyn, Mot Juste is part of a field of 11. Owned by breeder Robert Bennett, Mot Juste has beaten two of her primary rivals – Angel’s Hideaway and Sunday Star, who were second and third in the Oh So Sharp Stakes. Those fillies have not started since that race.

Main Edition will be well supported in the Nell Gwyn. Trained by Mark Johnston, Main Edition was third in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at seven furlongs on turf at Newmarket last September, finishing behind Just Wonderful. Main Edition won the Group 3 Albany Stakes at six furlongs at Royal Ascot last June.