Rainbow View's time to shine

The great expectations for Rainbow View will be under scrutiny for the first time this season at Newmarket on Sunday when George Strawbridge's European juvenile filly champion tackles 14 rivals in the 1000 Guineas Stakes. The undefeated daughter of Dynaformer is Ladbrokes' 11-10 favorite in the $557,000 one-mile fillies classic as she attempts to add her name to a list of winners that includes Hatoof, Miesque, and Pebbles.

There is good reason to believe that Rainbow View may belong in that exalted company. She was a perfect 4 for 4 at age 2 when she won the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes by six lengths, the Group 2 May Hill Stakes by two lengths, and the Group 1 Fillies Mile by 2 1/2 lengths. She has a high rate of acceleration, goes on any kind of ground, and is bred to accommodate anything between one and 1 1/2 miles.

Jimmy Fortune will take his usual place in the saddle on Sunday after a preparation that went "extremely well," according to trainer John Gosden.

While a race of this magnitude is never straightforward, it would be surprising, if not downright shocking, if Rainbow View did not get the business done as anticipated. "One of the best British-trained 2-year-old fillies of the last 20 years and hasn't finished improving," proclaimed Timeform in assessing her abilities.

Rainbow View will break from post 6 in the straight and undulating mile, which will not pose anything new for her as she has already won at that distance and took the seven-furlong Sweet Solera on the Guineas course.

Serious Attitude appears to be her main challenger. The Rae Guest trainee made it 3 for 3 last time on Oct. 3 when winning Newmarket's six-furlong, Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes by a half-length from Aspen Darlin, who tries her again Sunday. Lahaleeb is the in-form head winner of the seven-furlong Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes on April 18, while seven-furlong Group 2 Debutante Stakes winner Again deserves another chance after her dull eighth in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Oct. 5.

Rainbow View is not the only American connection in this 1000 Guineas. Heart Shaped, a fast-closing nose second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf for Aidan O'Brien, prepped with a second-place finish in the Group 3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial, while Devotee, third in Keeneland's Alcibiades Stakes when trained by Tom Albertrani for Darley, lines up for her turf debut after having won the UAE 1000 Guineas for Godolphin on Feb. 26.