Newmarket: Santa Barbara heavily bet in 1000 Guineas

Santa Barbara, off a mere maiden win last September, was the strong favorite Friday in early betting for Sunday’s English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Part of that price reflects the demonstrative manner of her debut victory going one mile at The Curragh on Sept. 26, part the fact that her trainer, Aidan O’Brien, has won this race four times the last five years, part, surely, glowing reports from training back home, and part from the perceived lack of sharp competition. Hype in the antepost betting markets also probably plays a role, with Santa Barbara, the mount of Ryan Moore, a general 8-5 chance two days from the straight-course, one-mile contest.

Santa Barbara is by Camelot out of Senta’s Dream, making her a sister to Order of Australia, winner of the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Mile, and Iridessa, winner of the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. The form out of her lone start is not exceptional and folks taking the short price are placing their faith in O’Brien and the wisdom of the market.

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O’Brien gives Frankie Dettori the mount on Mother Earth, last seen finishing second to Aunt Pearl in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf last fall.

Alcohol Free, second or third choice but double-digit win odds in early betting, has three wins and a second from her four starts, counting among the trio of victories the Group 1 Cheveley Park last fall and the Group 3 Fred Darling to start her 3-year-old season. The Cheveley Park is contested at six furlongs, which Alcohol Free handled well, but she appeared to butt up against possible distance limitations winning her Guineas prep by a narrow margin.

Mogul knows course well

Mogul won the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris over 1 1/2 miles at Longchamp last fall. He tries 1 5/16 miles over the spring version of the famed Parisian course in the Group 1 Prix Ganay on Sunday.

Mogul is one of seven entered in the Ganay, which at one point had been expected to attract the top older French horse Skalleti, who is not part of the field.

Mogul had an international campaign in 2020, skipping the Arc to finish fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf in November and win the Hong Kong Vase in December. He was the only horse trainer Aidan O’Brien sent for the Dubai World Cup card, but could only finish seventh in the Sheema Classic.

Also trying the Ganay is Magny Cours, a commendable third of 15 trying dirt for the first time in the Dubai World Cup. Gold Trip finished fifth behind Skalleti in the Prix d’Harcourt but was a solid fourth racing over heavy ground last fall in the Arc.