It's a race that dates back to 1814. The first winner was named Charlotte, trained by Tom Perren, ridden by Tom Cliff, and in the ownership of Christoper Wilson.
In recent years, Aidan O'Brien has made this race his own winning four of the last five contests with some exceptionally thoroughbreds including Minding (2016), Winter (2017), Hermosa (2019) and last year saw Love win, ridden by Ryan Moore for owners Magnier, Tabor & Smith. This daughter of Galileo has won 6 of her 10 starts, 4 victories at Group 1 class and over £700,000 in total earning.
See a list of recent 1000 Guineas winners here.
Many race fans will remember that a Frankel-sire filly competed in the 2020 1000 Guineas. Roger Charlton's Quadrilateral was sent off 11/4f. She had headed to Newmarket unbeaten in her three starts at two. She finished third behind Love, beaten four-and-a-half lengths.
So how will Frankel's offspring go this year's 1000 Guineas.
By all accounts, we are looking at limited stock, certainly numbers, as, at the time of writing, there are just two British-trained fillies earmarked for this second Classic of the season.
There are 63 entrants at this stage with a maximum of just 25 possible runners on the day. With no guarantee that any Frankel three-year-old fillies will make the big day, these candidates will need to put their best foot forward on the commencing of the new season. It's likely they will contest a Classic trail and decisions will be made.
Vesela, trained by Ralph Beckett, in the ownership of Juddmonte, Khalib bin Abdullah Al Saud.
This bay daughter of Frankel, out of a two-time winning mare, who was successful at Listed class.
Vesela disappointed on debut at Newmarket over 7f when a 11/2 shot, finishing tenth of fifteen and beaten over ten lengths.
Much better was seen second start when stepping up to one mile when winning by a head.
Clearly, there is much improvement needed to see his February foal be one of the leading lights and the odds of 50/1 suggest this too.
However, Beckett has earmarked the 1000 Guineas as the route for this winner and we will follow her progress this Flat turf season 2021.
The other filly, in my opinion, may have stronger claims.
Frankel Blog has mentioned this daughter of Frankel in one of our recent post. Snow Lantern is the daughter of Sky Lantern (pictured), similarly trained by Richard Hannon. The dam was an exceptional filly winning the 2013 1000 Guineas [the 200th running].
You can learn more about Sky Lantern and Snow Lantern by reading this post: Snow Lantern Lighting the Way for Hannon in 1000 Guineas
Snow Lantern is a grey filly, owned and bred by Rockcliffe Stud. Richard Hannon suggested she would go for a Guineas trial and head to the 1000 Guineas.
With a sole race under her belt, when finishing a creditable runner-up at Ascot, there is a lot of improvement needed but also to come.
The ante-post betting for the 1000 Guineas sees Snow Lantern priced 33/1 with bookmakers.
It would seem that Frankel has a limited number of quality three-year-olds racing over one mile. In fact, there are just two British-trained offspring of this exceptional racehorse and sire entered at this stage for the 2000 Guineas which is set to take place on the 1st May 2021.
Good luck to connections.
