Gavota camp hoping for a black-type boost and a springboard to Longchamp

Dubai Duty Free Stakes (registered as the Fred Darling Stakes) (Group 3) | 7f | 3yo fillies | ITV/RUK

A long time has passed since the Fred Darling Stakes acted as a springboard to Qipco 1,000 Guineas glory and it is highly improbable that trend will change this year, with the most obvious Newmarket Classic candidate considered more likely to run in a 1,000 Guineas not run in Britain.

That horse is 33-1 Guineas outsider Gavota, who on the figures is the best horse in the race and also one who may be seen in better light than when twice placed in Group company at Newmarket last autumn.

Gavota (right) finishes third in the Rockfel Stakes on her penultimate outingCredit: Edward Whitaker

It was only in the final strides of the Oh So Sharp Stakes that the Roger Charlton-trained filly was caught. A return to Newmarket in two weeks time seems unlikely.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Gavota's owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "She deserves a shot at this race but I would think if all went well at Newbury – and it is an important race as we need to make her a black-type winner – we would be more likely to look at the Pouliches than the 1,000 Guineas. She didn't come down the hill terribly well in the Rockfel.

"She is in good shape but she has retained her winter coat and still looks a bit woolly, although it does have a sheen on it."

Tajaanus not obvious Guineas hope says Hamdan camp

The questionable quality of this year's Fred Darling as a Classic trial is underlined by what connections think about the Richard Hannon-trained Sweet Solera Stakes winner Tajaanus, clear second favourite for this contest but on offer at 50-1 for the 1,000 Guineas.

Tajaanus (blue) is a 50-1 shot for the 1,000 Guineas and looks unlikely to go that way at this stageCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Angus Gold, racing manager to Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: "It would be a pleasant surprise if she was good enough to contest a 1,000 Guineas but we're looking forward to seeing how she gets on."

What they say

Richard Hannon, trainer of All Out, Natural and Tajaanus
Natural will run well at quite a big price – she's got a lot of ability. Tajaanus has been working with Billesdon Brook and Anna Nerium, who won at Newmarket this week, so I'd like to think she'll go well. All Out has also been working very well but has a bit to find on the figures.

Jack Channon, assistant trainer of Dan's Dream
We think she's quite talented but she has got to improve massively on her Bath win. It's a case of whether she stays the extra distance but if she does she would have an each-way chance.

Richard Fahey, trainer of Dance Diva
This race should tell us a lot. We know she is fit and the ground isn't going to bother her but she has a few pounds to find to beat of a few in the field.

Ed Walker, trainer of Fille De Reve
She has done exceptionally well through the winter. She was free-going last year but seems to have settled down. She's stepping up in grade but if we didn't think she was capable we wouldn't be running her. The more the ground dries out the better.

Ed Vaughan, trainer of Hikmaa
She won her Listed race and is a course-and-distance winner, so this is the obvious place to go. We won't know if she has trained on until the final furlong. She hasn't grown a lot, but I knew she wouldn't. The great thing about her is she is all heart.

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