Three 3-year-old fillies to watch in 2024
Matrika
- No Nay Never x Muravka - Aidan O'Brien
If you couldn't tell already from the colt horses above and other horses-to-follow articles I have done previously, I like to look away from the "obvious" horses to follow, and look for nice types who might not necessarily be superstars, but I feel will win races this season and beyond.
Aidan O'Brien has a plethora of very good horses to go to war with this season, especially the 3yo's. These include odds-on favourite for the 2000 Guineas City Of Troy, who does look to be a real superstar and the well fancied 1000 Guineas runner Ylang Ylang, who was a very expensive purchase and will no doubt head into her 3yo season with a fairly lofty reputation already.
However I have selected an under-the-radar horse for Aidan O'Brien in the shape of Matrika who is currently a pretty big price for the 1000 Guineas in May. The daughter of No Nay Never was a two-time winner as a 2yo last season, and although she wasn't aimed at the big Group 1 races in the end, she bagged a Group 2 win in her final run of the 2yo season.
The one thing I really like about this filly, is her attitude to racing, especially in the Albany at Royal Ascot last season where she looked the winner throughout but was just collared late on by a real Group 1 filly in Porta Fortuna.
Matrika was sent off at 6/1 on her debut at the Curragh back in May, and given it was an Aidan O'Brien horse with Ryan Moore aboard, she was a very big price looking back at it, although as we all know, the horses do not know their price in the market.
She dwelt from the start that day, but showed a really nice attitude to run on well in the closing stages, landing the contest by three quarters of a length in the end, in what looked to be a pretty hot contest, and given her price, I would probably say it was.
As previously mentioned, she then lined up for the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot where she was only just headed late on in the race, finishing 2nd by a length and being a further length clear to 3rd place, who was also 2 lengths ahead of the rest.
She then took a further step up in class when lining up for the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh, which she won going away by a little under 2 lengths in the end. That probably wasn't the strongest Group 2 in the world, but she wasn't to know and she won it hands down.
Being out of superstar Coolmore stallion No Nay Never, she could end up anywhere from being a 6 furlong sprinter to an Oaks candidate this season, but I would say they go for the 1000 Guineas with her over the mile trip and then go from there, and I don't think she will want any further at this stage.
It will be interesting to see what they do with her this season, and I think she is a Group 1 winner in waiting, maybe connections might send her over to France to try and land the top graded contest over there.
Devoted Queen
- Kingman x Fintry - Charlie Appleby
When it comes to the Flat season, and horses to follow, you always have to have a Godolphin horse in there somewhere, given the amount of firepower they have at their disposal, and Devoted Queen is the one I will be adding to my shortlist.
Although she is currently 3rd string for the 1000 Guineas in May, she has only had #one run in her career, which was a novice contes at Newmarket last season, which was actually her only run as a 2yo.
She could literally end up being anything, and given the manner in which she won on her sole start last season, I would firmly say she is a talented filly in the making. Being out of Kingman, and a dam who produced One Ruler (Group winner and 114-rated horse at his peak) I would say she could easily become a lovely type for the future.
There isn't much to really talk about with her, given she had just the one run last season, that was over 7 furlongs in the soft going at Newmarket, and as I have previously mentioned in this article, Newmarket experience for these younger horses could be very valuable indeed.
She was sent off the 15/8 favourite, and although she took a keen hold throughout, she was soon making very nice headway and going very well at the 2-furlong pole, before William Buick pushed the button and she flew clear, winning comfortably in the end and not even breaking a sweat.
The expected step up in trip will very much suit this filly, and although she is a pretty big price for the Guineas next month, I reckon she could shorten in the market if they decide to have a prep run for her before heading to Newmarket for the fillies’ centrepiece race. Ultimately she might not be good enough for the Guineas, but from what she showed on debut, I think she is a lovely type who will definitely win races this season.
Fallen Angel
- Too Darn Hot x Agnes Stewart - Karl Burke
Last but by no means least, this does slightly go against my whole horses-to-follow premise, as there will no doubt be a few selecting this horse, but I think Karl Burke does have a potential superstar on his hands with Fallen Angel, who is already a Group 1 winner for the team.
Out of Too Darn Hot, who had a very productive first season with his crop last season, he produced this filly and another one called Darnation for Karl Burke, who are two very nice prospects. Things haven't been easy for Karl these past few months, but I feel whenever he thinks about this horse it will give him all the motivation needed to keep going and training horses, and whenever she is mentioned by anyone to him, there is a little spark in his eye, as he knows that Fallen Angel could be superstar material this season.
She was well supported and a very impressive winner at Haydock on debut back in May, sent off the 9/4 favourite in the end, before going on to then come 2nd in a Listed contest at Sandown behind Shuwari, looking like she was still learning on the job.
Then things started to get pretty tasty for Karl and the team as she won the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes at Kempton by 3 lengths, before heading over to the Curragh to line up in the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes, where she was sent off the 9/2 3rd favourite in a very good contest indeed.
Some might say she was a fortunate winner as Ylang Ylang did not fire on the day, but you can only beat what is put in front of you, and she did so in some style by just under 2 lengths. For what it is worth, even if Ylang Ylang had fired that day, I still think Fallen Angel would have given it a very good go and made the Aidan O'Brien horse work very hard for it.
I reckon there are some pretty good types in behind her that day, and there will definitely be a few winners in the making. The Karl Burke filly is currently 9/2 joint favourite with Ylang Ylang, and given that they have met once, and Fallen Angel has already got the beating of her, I think the latter should be favourite for the 1000 Guineas come May. Even Karl Burke agrees and did say she might end up being favourite for the race come next month.
This is as good of an opportunity as any for Karl to land a British Classic, and what better classic to land than the first one of the season. She will operate in any ground conditions and Karl has already stated she will be heading for the Guineas with no prep run, which is usually the case for the very good types.
I can't wait to see how she gets on this season, and she is the most exciting horse to be in training for the season ahead. Fingers crossed it all goes well for her and the team in 2024, and what an opportunity it is to potentially have the 1000 Guineas favourite heading into the month of May.
Summary of 3-year-old Fillies to follow:
- Matrika - Aidan O'Brien
- Devoted Queen - Charlie Appleby
- Fallen Angel - Karl Burke
All previews and tips provided by @ Jake Russell