70 in for 1000 Guineas

Trainer Aidan O'Brien and the Godolphin team dominate a cosmopolitan 70-strong entry for the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6.

O'Brien is responsible for 10 of the possibles at this stage, including the unbeaten filly Maybe, winner of the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes on her final outing last term.

The Ballydoyle handler, who saddled Virginia Waters to victory in 2005, also has eyecatching Rockfel Stakes winner Wading in his team at this stage along with relatively unknown quantities such as Kissed and Twirl and Breeders' Cup fourth Up.

Godolphin claimed the prize with Blue Bunting in 2011 and have leading hopes in the unbeaten duo of Discourse and Lyric Of Light.

Discourse's two victories both came on Newmarket's July Course and included the Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes, while Lyric Of Light's three successes culminated with a victory over the course and distance in the Group One Fillies' Mile last September.

Another Godolphin entry is last year's Cherry Hinton Stakes heroine Gamilati, who already has a Guineas victory to her name, having taken the UAE version in great style at Meydan last month.

All of Godolphin's contenders are trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni.

La Collina is an intended runner for Kevin Prendergast after she beat the colts in the Phoenix Stakes last term, but he has already earmarked Maybe as the filly to beat.

Prendergast said: "The Qipco 1000 Guineas is the prime option for La Collina at the moment. We have always liked her and always thought she was quite smart.

"She beat the colt (Power) in the Phoenix Stakes that probably should have won the Dewhurst, and although she was a big price that day we did not pay much attention to that - we thought she would be hard to beat.

"She had a fillies' problem after the Moyglare Stud Stakes that we did not pick up before the race, and that is why she ran a bit disappointing, but we won't worry about that too much.

"She had got a lot closer to Maybe in the Silver Flash Stakes earlier in the season.

"However, I am not confident we will reverse the form, but we will certainly be there fighting it out.

"She has done very well over the winter and the ground will dictate whether or not she runs in a trial because I would not want to run her on heavy ground.

"She will have done enough work by the time the 1000 Guineas comes around. She is not the biggest filly so she won't be too hard to get ready.

"I do not think the mile will be a problem to her, she won over seven furlongs on her first start."

Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, who sponsors the race through his company, has a strong contender in last year's Group One Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lightening Pearl, while Elusive Kate, winner of the Group One Marcel Boussac Stakes at Longchamp, could represent John Gosden.

Mick Channon has seven to choose from at this stage, including Italian Group One winner Nayarra.

French handler Criquette Head-Maarek, successful four times in the 1000 Guineas, has two entries in the Khalid Abdullah-owned duo of Postale and Preferential.

An extra international element is also added with Mauricio Delcher Sanchez supplying a Spanish-trained entry in Irish Cliff.