Weld’s Rasmeyaa set to take her chance in Guineas

Rasmeyaa is set to take her chance in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday despite reservations that the race may come just a shade too soon. Following a pleasing workout on Tuesday the Dermot Weld-trained filly was given the go-ahead to bid for Classic glory.

“Like everybody they’ve had a tricky spring. I think trainer and jockey both feel in a perfect world they’d have another 10 days just to get her to blossom, but we don’t have that perfect world,” said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

“She worked well on Tuesday and they are perfectly happy to let her take her chance. She’s got her whole season in front of her and I’m sure she’ll be better for the run. We don’t have the benefit of time on our side, but we’ll give it a go.”

Gold confirmed that Weld’s stable jockey, Pat Smullen, will keep the ride on the filly, who won the second of her two starts in tremendous style at Leopardstown in October.

Weld left in Big Break at Monday's confirmation stage, but she is to wait for either the French or Irish versions, with the Etihad Airways-sponsored Classic at the Curragh on May 26th appearing the more likely destination.

'Little more time'
"We're going to see. She just needs a little more time," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abullah. "She has the option of the French Guineas. At this stage I would say the Irish Guineas would be a bit more likely."

Ante-post favourite Hot Snap will now be the owner’s sole representative at Newmarket. The impressive Nell Gwyn Stakes winner is reported to be ready for the big day. “She’s fine and is in good shape,” said Grimthorpe.

Winning Express was third behind Hot Snap in the Nell Gwyn, but her trainer, Ed McMahon, is to adopt different riding tactics in a bid to reverse the form. “I probably got her as fit as I could, but we rode her to get the seven furlongs and we got into a bit of a squashing match about two out. She’s come out of the race very well,” he told At The Races.

"I think everything will be right for her on Sunday. The ground will suit, bit I think it's an open Guineas. We're going to ride her slightly different. I won't give her the ground to make up."

Taking the mount
Sheikh Hamdan's retained jockey in Britain, Paul Hanagan, looks like taking the mount on outsider Diaminda, who will be trainer Alan Jarvis's first ever runner in a Classic.

Harry Dunlop is happy for Roz to make her three-year-old debut in the big race. That has been the plan since she finished second to Certify in the Shadwell Fillies’ Mile over this course and distance in September.

Meanwhile, Australian trainer Peter Moody has rejected claims there is a steroid cloud over Australian successes at the famous Royal Ascot meeting.

The British Horseracing Authority has refused to reveal if Black Caviar was treated with steroids before arriving at Ascot last June, but Moody told the Melbourne Herald Sun that the mare had been tested twice in the UK before competing and had never been treated with steroids.

“Steroids increase bulk,” Moody said. “Black Caviar was a huge mare, from the day she was born. It would have been absolutely counter-productive.”

Reacting angrily to speculation that a number of British trainers were concerned at whether the Australian runners at Royal Ascot had transgressed the rules – the trainer expressed his annoyance at his “lilywhite” counterparts.

“They bang on about steroids but they are the first to use Lasix when they campaign horses in the US,” he said.

“Maybe the Poms might start looking at themselves rather than looking at us.”