Charlie Appleby still hopeful of Guineas glory with Dance Sequence despite odds-on flop at Newmarket
CHARLIE APPLEBY has warned punters not to write off Dance Sequence despite her odds-on flop at Newmarket.
She had been challenging for favouritism in the 1000 Guineas – but she was eased in price after failing to overhaul 18-1 chance Pretty Crystal in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes.
GettyThe 18-1 shot Pretty Crystal (left) beat Dance Sequence in the Nell Gwyn Stakes[/caption]
The previously unbeaten filly was briefly short of room heading into the final couple of furlongs but, once in the clear, she still looked like she would mow down the leaders in the closing stages.
But she was as green as grass in the finish under champion jock William Buick, edging both left and right under pressure, and she was turned away by her more experienced rival who ran straight and true to the line.
It might have been a kick in the goolies for Appleby, who has yet to win the 1000 Guineas, but he is still upbeat and is hopeful she can run a big’un in the fillies’ Classic next month, for which she is now as big as 7-1 (from 7-2).
He said: “She was still very raw at the business end of the race, it was similar when she won here in the autumn.
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“She still has a lot of potential and she will have learnt plenty today. The extra furlong in the Guineas will help her and having that run under her belt is a big plus. We still have faith.”
Winning trainer Richard Fahey, meanwhile, will take his time deciding where to go next with Pretty Crystal, who doesn’t hold a Guineas entry.
He said: “She is very tough and she really stuck her neck out when the favourite came to challenge her.
“I like that attitude and she has clearly improved over the winter. She came up short in stakes company last year which is why we didn’t give her a Guineas entry.
“Today was an important day for her so the rest of the season is now pretty much a free hit.”
There were also 1000 Guineas clues earlier in the day when the well-fancied Fallen Angel took part in a racecourse gallop before racing.
She was nudged out to beat Lethal Levi by about a neck under Danny Tudhope, and trainer Karl Burke reckons she will need another gallop before the Guineas on May 6.
He said: “I’m happy with that, this was all about bringing her on fitness-wise and she has done a nice solid piece of work.
“She will have another fast gallop before the Guineas and that will put her spot on. I think we have her in a good place with a couple of weeks to go.
“She is unlucky not to be unbeaten and I think she will get further than a mile in time, so we have to be going to the Guineas with a right chance.”
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