The British Champions Series got underway earlier this month, with the Guineas Festival at Newmarket. The second of Britain’s five Classic races, the 1,000 Guineas acts as the opening leg of the Fillies’ Triple Crown and is followed by The Oaks and the St Leger, in June and September, respectively.
While punters look to source the upcoming race favourites on the betting exchange, let’s take a look back at this year’s winner of the 1,000 Guineas, as well as some of the previous winners from recent history.
2021: Mother Earth
Mother Earth gave trainer Aidan O’Brien his third successive victory in the 1,000 Guineas. All eyes had been on stablemate Santa Barbara in the lead-up to the race, but it was the 10/1 chance with Frankie Dettori in the saddle that won it. The filly was in mid-field, before Dettori demanded more of the filly, and she maintained her lead – winning by a length from Saffron Beach. O’Brien has since confirmed she is his only chance at the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp. On his Classics win, the Dettori said:
“I didn’t have the pressure of riding the favourite and I had a very willing partner with a filly that I knew was going to give me everything.”
“Come on the oldies!”
2020: Love
O’Brien claimed his fourth 1,000 Guineas title in five years, as the 4/1 shot, Love charged to victory, four-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Cloak of Spirits. The pre-race favourite and unbeaten Quadrilateral, beaten by the pressure of being Frankel’s daughter, could only finish third. For jockey, Ryan Moore, it marked a fourth success in the 1,000 Guineas – and he put in a commanding performance, as Love was in control throughout.
2019: Hermosa
At odds of 14/1, not many were expecting Hermosa to win the 1,000 Guineas, but it gave trainer O’Brien a duo of Guineas wins, having also won the 2,000 Guineas the day before. It marked a second victory in the race for Wayne Lordan, who had been in the saddle two years previous. Hermosa led throughout, to win by a length over Lady Kaya with the unbeaten favourite, Qabala finishing in third.
2018: Billesdon Brook
There was a huge shock at the 2018 edition of the 1,000 Guineas when the 66/1 rank outsider, Billesdon Brook, won against the odds. The filly, trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Sean Levey remains the longest odds winner to date. Once again, the favourite finished in third, with Ryan Moore on Happily, half a length behind Laurens in second. On the victory, Levey said:
“I’ve had plenty of winners and opportunities but I’ve always needed that Group One, so I’m delighted.”
2017: Winter
It was a hat-trick of double wins in the Guineas for O’Brien, as after Churchill won the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday, Winter followed it up in some style on Sunday in the 1,000 Guineas. The favourite was Rhododendron, but stablemate Winter denied her – and jockey Moore, who had won the Guineas the previous day – winning by two lengths. Legendary jockey, Dettori finished in third, on board Daban.
