Gosden has Newmarket options for Indigo Girl

John Gosden says Indigo Girl has wintered well but she is not guaranteed to contest the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.

Indigo Girl is considered one of the leading contenders for the opening fillies’ Classic of the year after winning on her first two starts last season, although she was pipped into second by Pretty Gorgeous on her last appearance of 2020 in the Group One bet365 Fillies’ Mile on the Rowley Mile.

Gosden has now confirmed the three-year-old filly has enjoyed a productive winter and she will head to Newmarket on May 2, but she is not assured of running in the 1000 Guineas, with the Clarehaven Stables handler confirming she also holds entry in Betfair Pretty Polly Stakes.

“The plan is to go to Newmarket the first weekend in May and she will be in two races,” Gosden revealed. “She is in the 1000 Guineas but she will also be put in the Pretty Polly. We will just see how she is before making a decision but that is the weekend we are training her for.”

A number of factors will be taking into account before deciding what race to opt Indigo Girl for, with Gosden admitting it will depend how the George Strawbridge-owned filly is training nearer the time.

“She has had a good winter and we are quite happy with her. She has only done half speeds so far and she hasn’t done any fast work yet,” Gosden added.

“The deciding factor of which route we take will be how she is training at the time. If we have races like the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) in mind and we feel a mile and a quarter will suit her straight away, then we will go for that (Pretty Polly).

“If she is showing us the natural speed you want for the Guineas, then we would look at that instead.”