Minding leads home O’Brien sweep in 1,000 Guineas

Minding led home a remarkable one-two-three for Aidan O’Brien in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The 11-10 favourite, ridden by Ryan Moore, travelled beautifully throughout as Lumiere set the pace before putting the race to bed with a scintillating turn of foot to earn the trainer his 250th Group One success.

Ballydoyle came from the rear of the field to claim second place, three and a half lengths away, while Alice Springs hung on grimly for third.

Moore said: “She’s out on her own, really. It wouldn’t have been the plan (to race so prominently), we didn’t go that quick early on but she hit the gates very well and I didn’t want to be taking her back.

“I was expecting a bit more speed in the race. She’s just faster than them and stays better than them. She’s faster than them all. She certainly hasn’t gone backwards.

“We were going very comfortably and had them all in trouble at halfway.

Of O’Brien recording his 250th Group One success, Moore added: “His record is unbelievable and there’s no one better to get a horse ready for a top race.”

O’Brien said: “We were delighted with them all. They are three top-class fillies. It’s a big team effort so it’s great for everybody. It was marvellous.

“We thought she was a very nice filly, but a lot of hard work goes in by a lot of people.

“We’ve always thought she’d stay but obviously we’ll talk about the Oaks, as you would. She’s something to look forward to.”

Expanding on the success, O’Brien said: “She’s always been very high class and she’s a pure home-bred. We’ve known the family well for a long time, which is great, it’s a massive help.

“She’s exciting, really. Ryan rode her handy and he was happy to do that, she looked relaxed, she wasn’t tense and he was very confident she was going to stay and everyone at home thought she was very fit.

“We know she handles more cut in the ground than that, which is great, she’s not ground dependent and I hadn’t realised she won three and a half lengths – she really galloped home. She doesn’t stop, she keeps going.

“All those things are open to her. She’d have the option of going back to an Irish Guineas and then an Oaks after that, but everyone will talk about it.

“It (Oaks) is very possible, but I don’t want to say it until we get home. We’ve always thought she’d stay.”

O’Brien described Moore as the “ultimate professional.”

He said: “He’s a special fellow, a total professional. He’s the ultimate professional, in every way, in everything he does. He doesn’t leave any stone unturned.

“We’re so privileged that he is part of our team.”

Minding was cut to 4-5 favourite from 3-1 for the Investec Oaks with Paddy Power.