I Love Me, successful in a Tattersalls sales race on her debut last year,
finished a close third behind Cape Dollar and Cochabamba in the seven-furlong,
Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on October 16 last year and she will be returning to
action in the Group 1 One Thousand Guineas May 1.
Trainer Andrew Balding is looking forward to running the filly, with Jimmy
Fortune up, in the fillies’ classic, which has 23 going forward after Monday’s
six-day stage, including the Richard Fahey-trained Barefoot Lady, who was
supplemented Monday at a cost of £30,000, having won the seven-furlong, Group 3 Nell Gwyn at Newmarket on April 13.
“I Love Me has a fair bit to find on form,” Balding said, “but she has
improved over the winter and a mile is right for her. She is working well and looking great. I am very happy with her and Jimmy
Fortune will ride.”
Richard Hannon will saddle Memory, winner of the Group 2 Cherry
Hinton at Newmarket in July last year but only sixth to
Misty for Me in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on her final start of 2010.
“Memory is going really well,” said Harry Herbert, managing director of
the Masquerade Syndicate of Highclere
Thoroughbred Racing. “She had a seven-furlong gallop down the
straight at Newbury a week ago and that seems to have put her right.
“She has been ticking over since, and Richard Hannon was very pleased with that
work, and does not plan any more serious work.
“Memory is bigger and stronger than last year and much more relaxed at home. She
looks fantastic and her owners, some of whom are experiencing ownership for the
first time, are very excited to have a live chance in a classic.”
Laughing Lashes, from Jessica Harrington’s County Kildare stables, defeated the
Aidan O’Brien-trained Misty for Me in the Group 2 Debutante at
the Curragh before finding that rival a length superior when runner-up in the Moyglare Stud
at the same course on August 29, and they are
due to clash again in the Newmarket classic over a mile.
Also among those going forward for the One Thousand Guineas is last year’s
champion juvenile filly Hooray. Sir Mark Prescott’s charge stormed to a
4 1/2-length victory in the Group 1 Cheveley Park at Newmarket
in October.
Sir Michael Stoute has two fillies remaining, the unbeaten Group 3 Oh
So Sharp winner Havant and Rockfel heroine Cape Dollar.
Godolphin handler Mahmood al Zarooni could saddle course and distance winner
Blue Bunting, successful in the Montrose Fillies’ Stakes, and the
unbeaten Radley winner Zoowraa.
As well as Misty for Me, O’Brien has Group 3 winner Empowering and Together
still entered.
The French could have three runners, headed by Moonlight Cloud from the
Freddie Head yard. She impressed when winning the Group 3 Prix Imprudence on April 7 and her only career defeat came against colts when
fourth to Wootton Bassett in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp
in October.
Robert Collet could run the smart Immortal Verse, while his son, Rodolphe Collet,
has listed winner Nova Hawk.
Others still in the One Thousand Guineas include Group 2 Queen Mary winner Maqaasid, the Barry Hills-trained
Make a Dance, well backed at fancy odds in recent days, and Group 3 winner
Majestic Dubawi.