Calling all bookies: why isn't this filly in next year's 1,000 Guineas market?

Perhaps it was lost due to the fact she helped Colin Keane reach one shy of the fastest century of winners in an Irish Flat jockeys' championship – he has since surpassed that record – but I think we saw one of the best juveniles this season on Friday.

Sacred Bridge is unbeaten in four starts. She has been sent off favourite each time and has also received strong market support, indicating the regard her connections hold her in.

Her latest success, a stunning three-and-three-quarter-length victory in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh, has only bolstered her reputation. Her trainer Ger Lyons won the race with a filly, Lightening Pearl, in 2011 and she went on to land the Cheveley Park.

While the form of this year's Round Tower alone is not much to write home about, some of Sacred Bridge's other form has been boosted and I think she's the dark horse going into the autumn Group 1s. Indeed, she is 6-1 third favourite for the aforementioned Cheveley Park.

On her debut over six furlongs in June, when she reportedly needed the run, she got the better of Agartha, who has since won the Group 3 Silver Flash and the Group 2 Debutante Stakes.

She showed her raw pace by winning the Listed Tipperary Stakes over five furlongs on her next start and then had to concede a 5lb penalty in the valuable Ballyhane Stakes at Naas. Back in fourth was Ever Given, who went on to win a competitive sales race at York.

Bred and owned by Juddmonte, Sacred Bridge's family is interesting because it is not that of an out-and-out two-year-old sprinter.

Sacred Bridge hoses up in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes at the CurraghCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

She certainly races like one, for all she stayed on powerfully on Friday, but her pedigree gives hope she would at least get a mile in time. It is also clearly on the minds of her connections as Shane Lyons, brother of Ger, said afterwards "we'll worry about that next year".

Her sire Bated Breath won the Temple Stakes and came within a half a length of winning a July Cup, but his best horse is the Group 2-winning miler Space Traveller.

Sacred Bridge's dam, Sacred Shield, won over ten furlongs for Sir Henry Cecil and has already produced a Grade 1 winner in Viadera – also by Bated Breath and previously trained by Lyons – who got up close home to win the Matriarch Stakes over a mile at Del Mar last November.

Sacred Shield herself is by stamina influence Beat Hollow, the classy dual-purpose sire responsible for Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo.

Three of her progeny, Crossed Baton (Dansili), The Begum (Zamindar) and John Locke (Mastercraftsman), all won over ten furlongs, while the latter has since gone hurdling for Dan Skelton.

With all of this in mind, I was surprised Sacred Bridge wasn't in any of the markets for next year's 1,000 Guineas, especially considering how fast the second favourite Sandrine is.

Lyons doesn't often target British Group 1s and famously dislikes running his juveniles at Royal Ascot, so it is entirely possible he will choose to stay close to home with Sacred Bridge, but that doesn't explain why she isn't even quoted.

The trainer sent Siskin over for the 2019 Middle Park – unfortunately that ended in disappointment and frustration after the colt became upset in the stalls and was a non-runner – but not for the 2,000 Guineas.

Hopefully Sacred Bridge will at least run in the Cheveley Park in just under a month's time, so we'll have more of a guide to the possibility of her running in the Guineas if she tackles the Rowley Mile's undulations.

And, unlike in Siskin's coronavirus-affected season when there was just six days between the two Guineas, the Newmarket race usually takes place three weeks before the Irish version, so it is quite possible she could do both.

Given she has been so precocious, she could well have more of an advantage earlier on in the season before her rivals catch up.

Please take my musings above with a rather hefty pinch of salt. I am saying this in September after all, and the chances are a Guineas winner in waiting she is not.

But she is undoubtedly one of the best prospects around at the moment, so consider this column an SOS call to all bookmakers: Sort (it) Out Soon!

Read more . . .

Spectacular Sacred Bridge maintains unbeaten record at the Curragh

Landmark triumph as Ger Lyons records 1,000th career winner with Offiah

101 not out! History made as Colin Keane records fastest century

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