Charlie Hills is looking forward to saddling two of his leading three-year-old fillies at Newmarket's QIPCO Guineas Festival on Sunday (May 6).
The Lambourn-based handler will be represented by Gray Pearl in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, generally 25/1 for the mile Classic, and Hazel Lavery, a 33/1 shot for the Oaks, could make her eagerly awaited reappearance in the Listed Tweenhills Pretty Polly Stakes over 10 furlongs.
Gray Pearl will be returning to the Rowley Mile Course after rounding off her juvenile campaign with a promising third to Wading over seven furlongs in the Group Two Vision.ae Rockfel Stakes in October. She had previously scored comfortably on her debut at Newbury over six furlongs in August and her trainer is confident of a big run this weekend.
Hills said: “The QIPCO 1000 Guineas is the plan for Gray Pearl. I'm really pleased with her and her preparation. She had a racecourse gallop at Newmarket, which we were very happy with, and she seems to have come out of that really well.
“I don't think the softer ground at Newmarket will be a problem - I think she might prefer it that way - and the mile won't be a problem either.
“She has done very well over the winter. She is a big scopey filly with a good cruising speed and I am looking forward to running her.
“She ran a great race in the Vision.ae Rockfel Stakes and obviously had a lot less experience than the other fillies. She is very straightforward and I think she is pretty useful so she should run a big race.”
Hazel Lavery has also gained plenty of experience at Newmarket after finishing third on her debut at the course in August, before ending her season with a second behind Group One performer Samitar in the £300,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Fillies' Trophy in October.
Prior to that fine effort on the Rowley Mile, she readily accounted for a smart clutch of fillies in a conditions race at Newbury over seven furlongs in September and the trainer believes she could make up into a live Oaks contender this year.
Hills added: “At the moment, the Tweenhills Pretty Polly Stakes is the plan for Hazel Lavery and I think the ground will be fine for her as I wouldn't want to run her on ground too firm at this stage of the season.
“She also worked at Newmarket with Gray Pearl and went nicely so we will certainly have a good look at the race.
“She has also done very well over the winter and has been moving nicely. Everyone who has been riding her said they have been getting a good feel so we want to start her somewhere.
“She is in the Oaks and she should stay well as she is out of a Darshaan mare. If she is good enough that is a race we will certainly be looking at.”
