Lavery has high hopes for Lady Kaya

Impressive Nell Gwyn heroine Qabala heads 24 fillies standing their ground for the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5 following the latest forfeit stage.

Roger Varian’s charge leapt to favouritism in the ante-post market with a breathtaking performance to beat her stablemate Mot Juste, who also remains in the Classic mix.

Irish trainer Sheila Lavery has yet to have a winner in Britain, but is looking to put that right with Lady Kaya, who gave her a first Pattern-race success in the Group Three 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown.

“Lady Kaya came out of her Leopardstown race very well, I am very happy with her, and she now heads to Newmarket,” said Lavery.

“She will be my first runner in a Classic and I’m just trying to get her there in one piece and trying not to think about it too much – if I do it makes me feel physically ill!

“One of the reasons why we have chosen to send her to Newmarket is that we know she handles the track, having run on it in the Cheveley Park Stakes.

“She only finished sixth that day but that was not her true form, it came too soon for her, less than two weeks after the Moyglare, and she ran flat.

“I think Lady Kaya was fairly straight for her Leopardstown win, as she is naturally very fit, but I certainly hadn’t gunned her at home.

“Guineas day will without doubt be the biggest moment of my training career and, without sounding big-headed, I have never been one to be scared by the opposition, as you just never know.”

Among other Irish-trained possibles is the John Oxx-trained Skitter Scatter, who defeated Lady Kaya in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien’s seven include Just Wonderful and Fairyland, while Joseph O’Brien has Iridessa, winner of the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket and third behind Lady Kaya on her reappearance.