Damson Among 23 Going Forward For UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas

Ante-post favourite Damson is among 23 fillies going forward for the #342,500 UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas, which also include one supplementary entry in Market Trend, trained by last year´s winning trainer Mark Johnston and an impressive scorer at Kempton on April 2. This has boosted the prize money to #342,500.

Damson, trained in Ireland by David Wachman, won her first four starts last season, including the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, before finishing third to Magical Romance in the Group One Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

Godolphin, looking to win a third UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas, has a brace to choose from - Fen Shui and Satin Kiss. The latter has been victorious in both the UAE 1000 Guineas and Oaks already this season.

Aidan O´Brien is still seeking his first UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas victory and relies on Virginia Waters, successful on her seasonal debut in the 1000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown.

Both winners of the two main British 1000 Guineas trials are engaged. Karen´s Caper was the triumphant filly in the Group Three Shadwell Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket on April 13, when she beat Cape Columbine by three-quarters of a length with Favourita in third.

Penkenna Princess took the Dubai Duty Free (Fred Darling) Stakes at Newbury on April 16 with Echelon in third and Love Thirty in fourth.

Sir Michael Stoute, in search of his third UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas, could have two runners, with Echelon and Shanghai Lily, a facile scorer on both her starts at Newbury last season.

Other contenders include Vista Bella, winner of both her starts this season for Michael Jarvis, and Maids Causeway, successful in the Group Two Owen Brown Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last season.