Nineteen runners lined up in an enthralling edition of the fillies Classic in 2026. Having ended her juvenile season with back-to-back Group 1 wins, including over the Guineas course and distance in the Fillies’ Mile, Aidan O’Brien’s Precise started as the clear market leader. In a strong race for the Ballydoyle team, stablemate True Love also featured prominently in the betting. A Group 1 winner at this track following her success in the Cheveley Park Stakes, she looked set to go well if handling the step up to a mile.
Nestled between the two O’Brien fillies at the head of the market was the Karl Burke-trained Venetian Sun. Too good for the colts in the 2025 Prix Morny, she finished behind Precise in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and was another tackling a mile for the first time. Yorkshire-based Burke had an intriguing second string to his bow in the shape of Evolutionist, who had finished third to Precise in the Fillies’ Mile.
The only other filly available to back at a single-figure price was Charlie Appleby’s sole representative, Abashiri. By Frankel and out of the Group 1-winning mare Sobetsu, she raced only once during her juvenile season when scoring in style at Kempton.
French raider My Highness added a touch of international flavour to the race. The mount of Oisin Murphy won in Group 2 company as a juvenile and represented 2014 winning trainer André Fabre.
Two of the more interesting runners at bigger prices were Venetian Lace, who finished second to Precise in the Fillies’ Mile, and Azleet, who arrived on the back of a win in the Nell Gwynn Stakes at this track in April.
Result
- 1st – True Love 5/1, Jockey: Wayne Lordan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd – Evolutionist 16/1, Jockey: Shane Foley, Trainer: Karl Burke
- 3rd – Venetian Lace 33/1, Jockey: Jason Hart, Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £297,727.50
- 2nd – £112,875
- 3rd – £56,490
- 4th – £28,140
- 5th – £14,122.50
- 6th – £7,087.50
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £6.80
- Tote Places – 1st – £2.15, 2nd – £4, 3rd – £9.85
- Exacta – £69.70
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £78.17
- Trifecta – £1,593.60
- Tricast – £2,490.39
Recap
The runners got off to a fairly even start when the stalls opened, with Azleet the only filly to noticeably miss the break. Evolutionist grabbed the overall lead from Silenciosa on the far side, with My Highness blazing a trail up the centre of the track and Venetian Lace leading the near side group.
The runners continued in three distinct groups passing the two-furlong pole. Venetian Lace was followed through by Mubasimah and Abashiri on the near side, with True Love among those just off the pace. My Highness headed the quartet who stuck to the centre of the track, with Evolutionist flanked by her stablemate Venetian Sun and Silenciosa on the far side.
Passing halfway, Venetian Lace upped the tempo to take the overall lead, followed by Abashiri and Mubasimah. True Love was in touch but yet to make a move. By this stage, the central group had tracked across to join those on the far side, where Evolutionist and My Highness were ridden to maintain their advantage. Precise raced widest of all and towards the rear of the far side group.
Two furlongs from home, Venetian Lace had moved into a length advantage over Evolutionist on the far side and seemed intent on making this a true test. Many of those in behind were beginning to struggle, but not True Love, who smoothly slipped into a higher gear. Swooping past Venetian Lace as the field moved into the dip, the O’Brien second string stayed on resolutely up the centre of the track. Evolutionist gave it one last go on the far side, but True Love would not be denied. The mount of Wayne Lordan came home a length and three-quarters ahead of Evolutionist, with Venetian Lace running a brave race back in third.
It was an impressive eighth 1,000 Guineas win for Aidan O’Brien, who moved to within one of Robert Robson in the all-time trainers’ table. Wayne Lordan won the race for a third time, following his victories aboard the O’Brien-trained duo Winter (2017) and Hermosa (2019).
Runners
- 1. Abashiri – SP: 8/1, Trainer: Charlie Appleby, Jockey: William Buick
- 2. Azleet – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Stuart Williams, Jockey: Marco Ghiani
- 3. Darn Hot Gallop – SP: 80/1, Trainer: James Tate, Jockey: Rossa Ryan
- 4. Domina Ignis – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Kevin Philippart De Foy, Jockey: David Egan
- 5. Evolutionist – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Karl Burke, Jockey: Shane Foley
- 6. Inis Mor – SP: 28/1, Trainer: David Menuisier, Jockey: Sean Levey
- 7. Mubasimah – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: David Probert
- 8. My Highness – SP: 10/1, Trainer: André Fabre, Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- 9. Precise – SP: 9/5F, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore
- 10. Rose Ghaiyyath – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Richard Hughes, Jockey: Billy Loughnane
- 11. Silenciosa – SP: 80/1, Trainer: Tom Clover, Jockey: Jack Mitchell
- 12. Spicy Marg – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Michael Bell, Jockey: Tom Marquand
- 13. The Prettiest Star – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Ed Walker, Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
- 14. Timeforshowcasing – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Charlie Johnston, Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
- 15. Touleen – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Owen Burrows, Jockey: Saffie Osborne
- 16. True Love – SP: 5/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Wayne Lordan
- 17. True Test – SP: 250/1, Trainer: William Knight, Jockey: Luke Morris
- 18. Venetian Lace – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Charlie Johnston, Jockey: Jason Hart
- 19. Venetian Sun – SP: 9/2, Trainer: Karl Burke, Jockey: Clifford Lee
Non-Runners
All Ran