Rainbow View looks to keep mark perfect in One Thousand Guineas

Rainbow View looks to keep mark perfect in One Thousand

Guineas

In terms of pure achievement, George Strawbridge's RAINBOW VIEW (Dynaformer)

sets a rare standard as she heads to post for the English One Thousand Guineas

(Eng-G1) at Newmarket on Sunday. Unbeaten, un-harassed and untouchable at two, her presence

has ensured that the widely lauded Fantasia (Sadler's Wells) goes elsewhere. It

was that stellar performer who got closest to her in the Fillies' Mile (Eng-G1) at Ascot in September, where Rainbow View earned true champion status

after easy scores in the Sweet Solera S. (Eng-G3) on the July Course in August and May Hill S.

(Eng-G2) at Doncaster in September. For trainer John Gosden, it has been a

case of minding and caressing along this precious commodity.

"She is freakish,

but I think she's always been that way," Gosden said. "When they reared her in the

paddocks at Stone Farm, Arthur Hancock told me she let them know when she wanted

to come in and, if she didn't want to, you wouldn't get her. She's always had a

mind of her own, but that's the psychological and mental part of her

competitiveness and brilliance. She's always been a special case and, if you

tried to train her like a conventional filly, you would lose."

Mick Channon has been close to British classic glory before with the likes of Zafeen in the colt's

classic and talented fillies Bint Allayl, Queen's Logic and Nahoodh (Ire), who the fates conspired against for one reason or another here. Step

forward LAHALEEB (Redback) to attempt to break the hoodoo for the

West Ilsley conditioner. No match for Rainbow View when third in the May Hill,

the hardy campaigner saw off ASPEN DARLIN (Indian Haven) in the Rockfel S.

(Eng-G2) here on Championsy before returning to best SUPER SLEUTH (Selkirk) by a head in the Fred Darling S.

(Eng-G3) at Newbury in her three-year-old

bow on April 18.

"It looks like a good Guineas and John Gosden's filly is the

yardstick," Channon said. "We're a high-class filly, but just have to go out and

do it. A lot of my fillies have improved from two to three, and I think she's

one of them.

Jockey Darryll Holland is hopeful she can make her mark.

"She's very

tough and proved she retains her ability at Newbury," Holland said. "The Rockfel is a very good trial for the Guineas and

(she) has done nothing but

improve -- she puts her head down and looks for a fight."

Veteran trainer Alan Bailey

has been around the block and is another yet to taste classic glory, but all

that could change if Aspen Darlin can find some improvement. She was successful

in the Firth of Clyde S. (Eng-G3) at Ayr before finishing a half-length second to

SERIOUS ATTITUDE (Mtoto) in the Cheveley Park S. (Eng-G1), and filling the

same spot in the Rockfel here in the space of a month last fall.

"It's going to

be hard and I'd be frightened of everything, but she would have an each-way

chance in an ordinary Guineas."

Godolphin's One Thousand Guineas winners Cape Verdi (Ire) and Kazzia (Ger) came in 1998 and 2002, respectively, but there has been a drought

subsequently. DEVOTEE (Elusive Quality), the latest representative in the royal

blue, comes off an unorthodox preparation, having won the February 26 UAE

Oaks at Nad Al Sheba. Racing Manager Simon Crisford is hopeful, rather than

confident.

"It is a very ambitious ask to run Devotee in the One Thousand Guineas, as

she has never raced on turf before," Crisford explained. "She ran well in Dubai when she

won the UAE Oaks, but this is a completely different kettle of fish, and she

will need to be much improved to be competitive here. She has relaxed well while

we have been in Newmarket, and we are happy with her."

Barry Hills is another

sending an unknown into battle in the shape of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al

Maktoum's GHANAATI (Giant's Causeway), who has just a maiden win on Kempton's

Polytrack in October to her name. Nevertheless, her trainer, who was successful

in 1978 with Enstone Spark (GB), is giving off the right vibes.

"I have been looking forward to seeing her run for a long time," Hills told PA Sport.

"It was always the plan to go straight there -- I never wanted her to run (in a

prep) over seven furlongs, I wanted her to run over a mile."

Brian Meehan has given

the go-ahead to the Fred Darling runner-up Super Sleuth after being satisfied

that the ground is not too quick.

"Super Sleuth ran a fabulous race at Newbury

and deserves to have a crack at the Guineas," Meehan said. "We thought she

would just need that first run of the season, and she should improve. We are

looking forward to see how she gets on, and I am sure she will not let us down."

David Wachman warned on Saturday that Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier's Moyglare Stud S.

(Ire-G1) winner AGAIN (Danehill Dancer) the One Thousand Guineas unless the forecasted rain appears.

"The ground is

quick and unless the heavens open, it's doubtful she will run," Wachman told PA

Sport. "We came to walk the course with the intention of running, but it looks

very doubtful at this stage."