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Moonlight may miss 1000 Guineas

Memory (blue silks) has been off the track since disappointing in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh last August
Memory (blue silks) has been off the track since disappointing in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh last August

Freddie Head has yet to make a final decision on whether Moonlight Cloud will cross the English Channel to contest the Qipco 1000 Guineas on 1 May.

The Invincible Spirit filly won her first two starts as a juvenile before running a fine fourth behind Wootton Bassett in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Arc day.

She made a hugely impressive reappearance in last week's Prix Imprudence at Maisons-Laffitte and is now as short as 5-1 to claim Classic glory at Newmarket.

‘She has come out of the race very well and I'm very happy with her,’ said Head.

‘I was delighted with her performance and she is a very nice filly with a lot of class.

‘The Guineas at Newmarket is a possibility, but we are undecided yet.

‘I need to speak to the owner and we'll see. I think she'll go there, but it is not certain yet.

‘Faster ground at Newmarket would not be a problem for her - she would love it.’

The horse that chased Moonlight Cloud home at Maisons-Laffitte was hot favourite Helleborine, trained by Head's sister, Criquette Head-Maarek.

The Chantilly-based handler has saddled four previous winners of the Newmarket Guineas, including Special Duty in 2010.

‘She seems to be fine and she looks well, but no decision has been made on where she'll run next,’ said Head-Maarek.

‘I was not disappointed at all with her run last week as the winner is very good.

‘I want to see what is going to run in the French Guineas and what is going to run in England, but I think it is going to be very hard for me to beat Freddie's filly.

‘I will be trying to avoid her as the other day, I don't think we had any excuses.

‘Our filly ran a very good race and maybe she needed the race physically as she was not 100%, but I'm not sure she can beat the horse that beat her.’

Richard Hannon, meanwhile, will resist the urge to give leading contender Memory a prep run before the Guineas.

The Wiltshire handler told his website: ‘She was on the small side last year, so I am glad to see that she has grown a bit.

‘We know that she has gears, but she is also much easier to manage this spring and has matured.

‘We think that she will have the stamina for the mile and she will go straight to Newmarket.’

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