Cheveley Park: Fairyland enters 1,000 Guineas picture with Aidan O'Brien double
By Geoffrey Riddle
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Watch a full replay of the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes won by Fairlyand at Newmarket on Saturday and read our report from the Rowley Mile with updates on the placed horses.
Fairyland narrowly denied The Mackem Bullet for a second time this season in a thrilling climax to the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Fairyland claimed her third win from four starts when seeing off Brian Ellison’s The Mackem Bullet by a nose in the Lowther Stakes at York in August and it was a similarly close fought battle in this six-furlong Group One.
Both horses were positioned prominently from the off, but 6-1 chance Fairyland looked to be travelling much the better entering the final furlong.
However, 25-1 shot The Mackem Bullet refused to go down without a fight under Oisin Murphy and there was just a neck between them at the line.
O’Brien also saddled the third home So Perfect.
Fairyland, who like the runner-up was bred at Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland, was slashed into 14-1 for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas back on the Rowley Mile next spring.
“She's come forward from York and she's a lovely filly," the winning trainer said.
“She came back from a break at York and we were delighted with her that day because we thought she would come forward from that run.
“She was affected as badly as most in our yard by the problems earlier in the season but we are delighted with her now, she's a lovely big filly.
“Donnacha gave her a peach of a ride, she's got loads of speed. We always thought that she would stay and get a mile but she's got loads of speed. She relaxes very well and has got a lovely mind, which is key.
“We probably won't run her again, she's had a tough enough time.”
Pretty Pollyanna was the 6-4 favourite to confirm her place at the head of ante-post lists for next year’s 1000 Guineas.
The daughter of Oasis Dream could not add to her victories in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and Prix Morny, however, passing the post in fourth.
Trainer Michael Bell was not downhearted, however, and even suggested there may be one more run back here this season.
“She jumped very well and he took her back, which in hindsight may have been the wrong decision,” he said. “Maybe he should have let her use her stride. We’ll lick our wounds and reload.
"She’s in the Fillies’ Mile. She’ll definitely get a mile and it wouldn’t worry me her getting a mile but we need to sit down and have a talk. It is a possibility she will take it up.”
The Mackem Bullet was purchased by Japanese owner Katsumi Yoshida following her York run and trainer Brian Ellison is now looking ahead to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ race at Churchill Downs at the end of October.
"You come to these races knowing these are the best fillies in the country," Ellison said.
“She is a big filly when you look at the rest of them. She will make a lovely three-year-old.
“Oisin said she is crying out for a mile – he said she got outpaced into The Dip and then she was staying on. When he rode her at Ascot, he said she needed seven furlongs and today he said she was crying out for a mile.
“We will have to see what the new owners think about the Guineas, but the Breeders’ Cup is on the agenda. That would be a first runner in the Breeders’ Cup for me – she is the best filly I have trained. She is uncomplicated, you don’t have to over-work her.
“Mr. Yoshida having horses with the yard is great – I just hope he’ll send me some more! After York we had about 10 or 15 offers and she went to the highest bidder.”
Murphy added: “She is a lovely physical specimen and it is great that Mr. Katsumi Yoshida is involved in this stable and purchased the filly.
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