Sandown target for Inspiral after 'straightforward decision' to miss Guineas

Inspiral is likely to head for the Listed Coral Heron Stakes at Sandown next month after she was ruled out of Sunday’s Qipco 1,000 Guineas, for which she had been long-term ante-post favourite.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden for Cheveley Park Stud, Inspiral was champion two-year-old filly last year after going unbeaten through her first season including when landing the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on her final start.

However, Inspiral was displaced as favourite for the 1,000 Guineas by Tenebrism last Friday and was ruled out of the Classic on Sunday after missing a crucial period of training, with John Gosden stating that missing the race is the right thing for the filly.

Instead, connections have pivoted towards the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, with Gosden identifying the Heron Stakes, a race he has won the last three runnings of with Without Parole, King Of Comedy and Mostahdaf, as the best option for the filly as a preparation.

The Gosdens have won the last three runnings of the Heron Stakes, including with Mostahdaf (pictured) last yearCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

“In the case of Inspiral all being well she will run in the Heron Stakes as a prep for the Coronation Stakes,” Gosden said. “I was just going through the [programme] book last night and there are no fillies’ races for her in this country. She can’t go for the Michael Seely at York as she is not eligible and consequently the Heron comes at the right time. We will point her towards Sandown before going to the Coronation Stakes.”

Gosden said the decision to miss the first fillies’ Classic of the season with Inspiral was straightforward as she would have been in the best possible condition for the contest.

“She missed those critical eight to ten days of training during [the Craven meeting] here and from that point of view I couldn’t run her at 80 per cent as that wouldn’t be very clever,” Gosden said, speaking during a Qipco Guineas festival preview lunch in Newmarket on Tuesday.

“It was a straightforward decision in the end not to run in the Guineas when you miss that period of training. You have got to be full match fitness for a Guineas; you can’t miss two critical bits of work and think you are going to be there so to that extent it was not a difficult decision.

“You do the right thing by the filly and the right thing was not to run.”

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