Punting pointers as exciting Dancing Vega bids for Guineas spot in Fred Darling

2.10 NewburyDubai Duty Free Stakes (Registered as the Fred Darling) (Group 3) | 7f | fillies | ITV/RTV

Vega could be a star for Beckett

Few trainers will approach the spring Classic trials with as much excitement and trepidation as Ralph Beckett, who begins the Flat season with a host of potentially smart three-year-olds.

Chief among them are a clutch of fillies owned by Waverley Racing, all by the stallion Lope De Vega, with the next few weeks determining whether the promising starts they made last year will be translated into Classic success the season.

Dancing Vega is the first to showcase her talents. She certainly looked good when defeating a subsequent Listed winner on her only start over a mile at Doncaster last year, and Beckett is looking forward to getting her back on track.

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“She's had a pretty good preparation but I think she'll benefit from the run,” Beckett said. “She'll like the ground and is coming back a furlong, but I don’t think that’s a problem.

“If she's going to get to the 1,000 Guineas she has to run somewhere and this gives her the best chance of recovering for it.”

Sprinting or a mile? That is the question for So Perfect

The Coolmore partners and trainer Aidan O'Brien will be keeping a particularly close eye on the closing stages of this race as they attempt to find out if So Perfect has the stamina for a Qipco 1,000 Guineas bid.

So Perfect showed smart form on a number of occasions last year, notably when second to Advertise in the Phoenix Stakes and third to Fairyland in the Cheveley Park Stakes.

So Perfect (near): represents Aidan O'Brien in the Dubai Duty Free StakesCredit: Alain Barr (racingpost.com/photos)

However, with So Perfect having not run beyond six furlongs, O'Brien is pondering whether a sprinting campaign may be the way forward.

"She showed good form over five and six furlongs last year and sprinting might be her game this season," he said.

"She's in good form and we decided to stretch her out to seven furlongs here to see how she gets on. We'll know more after this race."

What the rest say

Kevin Ryan, trainer of Queen Jo Jo and Glass Slippers
We're using this race as a pointer to see where we go with the pair of them for the rest of the season. They're very similar horses and in good order at home, but we'll know more after the race.

Tom Dascombe, trainer of Iconic Choice
She's a very genuine filly who requires soft ground. She handles soft ground better than others do. She won the Radley Stakes on soft and won on heavy at Ayr.

Mick Channon, trainer of Modern Millie
We think she's a really nice filly. We've got to find out where we stand, and tomorrow's the day to do it. It's turned out to be a very hot Fred Darling - everyone's come here for lovely ground. But we expect a big run and whatever happens she'll come on again, that's for sure.

John Gosden, trainer if Muchly
There are a dearth of novice races for fillies at the moment so it's a case of either taking on the colts or pitching her into a better race. Muchly has developed nicely over the winter, has been pleasing at home, and this will tell us a bit more about her.

Yourtimeisnow (left): trainer Roger Varian encouraged by her work this springCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Richard Hannon, trainer of Star Terms
Star Terms is a very good filly who's just finding her feet now. She's done really well this spring. I think she may want a mile and a quarter but we'll start her off over seven furlongs and I believe she'll go on any ground.

Roger Varian, trainer of Yourtimeisnow
Yourtimeisnow needs to prove she's as effective over seven furlongs as she was over six. She’s training well, looks exceptionally well for the time of year, and I think she’ll run a very good race. It’ll give us a pointer about which path to follow for the rest of the season.

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