InspiralInspiral © Mark Cranhamphoto.com/Racing Post PhotosEurope

Frankel's 50th Group winner favourite for 1000 Guineas

Inspiral's win in the Gr.2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster yesterday cemented her position as favourite for the 2022 Gr.1 1000 Guineas.

The unbeaten two-year old became Frankel's 50th Northern Hemisphere-bred Group winner - a feat he has achieved faster than any other European-based stallion in history - 281 days ahead of his nearest rival. He has 11% Group winners to runners for his Northern Hemisphere-bred offspring.

Taken from the Racing Post, 10th September 2021, by Andrew Dietz:

The Cheveley Park Stud homebred was favourite for those Classics before the Gr.2 May Hill and did her prospects no harm by extending her unbeaten record to three on her first try at Group level.

Sent off the 2-9 favourite under Frankie Dettori, Inspiral took a bit of time to warm to her task and did not quite show the same striking turn of pace as she did at Sandown in July.But the further she went, the better she looked as she asserted her authority in the final furlong to score by three and three-quarter lengths.

Dettori said: "She had to learn today. It was a slow pace and she had to quicken which isn't her style. She's a work in progress and I think she can get better over the winter."

The Gosden team are without a runner in Saturday's Cazoo St Leger, as was the situation in the 2,000 Guineas, Oaks and Derby, and only 66-1 also-ran Star Of Emaraaty represented them in the 1,000 Guineas.

But they can start to dream about next year's Classics with Inspiral, who was cut to a general 6-1 (from 10) for the 1,000 Guineas and 10-1 (from 14) for the Oaks.

After the stable recorded a sixth success in the May Hill, Thady Gosden said: "She's done very well against some improving fillies. The ground was probably a little bit too quick for her, but she's got plenty of class.

"She's progressed nicely from Sandown to here. The plan was to come here and if she ran well, go on to the Fillies' Mile. Obviously she's an exceptional filly, but she's got plenty of frame to fill into, so we're hopeful she can mature nicely over the winter into next year."

Cheveley Park's Richard Thompson said: "Having a homebred like this, trained by Thady and John and ridden by Frankie, is what we live for and dream about. She looks special and it's fantastic to see her win the May Hill.

"We've won the Fillies' Mile a couple of times and the Guineas a few years ago now, and it would be absolutely fantastic if she was good enough to compete in the Guineas."