Rhododendron heading straight for Guineas

Rhododendron will head straight to the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Ante-post favourite through the winter thanks to her win in the Fillies' Mile, trainer Aidan O'Brien has been delighted with the progress she has made through the winter.

Speaking in a stable tour for www.attheraces.com, he said: "She's doing everything right and it's all going to plan with her so far. She's a big, rangy filly that has done plenty well in physical terms over the winter.

"She will go straight to Newmarket for the 1000 Guineas and should have no problem stepping up to a mile-and-a-quarter in due course. I think she is versatile when it comes to ground."

Second in the Fillies'' Mile was stablemate Hydrangea and after disappointing at the Breeders' Cup, she returned to action with a win in a Guineas trial last weekend.

"She's a solid filly that is being trained for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. She was very straight in fitness terms going to Leopardstown," said O'Brien.

"She's very genuine, very clear winded and while she might get a mile-and-a-quarter, I wouldn't be sure about her getting a mile-and-a-half."

Winter is a new recruit from David Wachman and was just a head behind Hydrangea last week.

"David always liked her last year and felt she was one of his better fillies. I was very happy with her at Leopardstown as she was drawn badly, caught wide and just ran a bit too free," said O'Brien.

"There's a chance she'll go to the 1000 Guineas and come back for the Irish equivalent before stepping up in trip after that. She's out of a fast mare, but she should stay a mile-and-a-quarter and might get a mile-and-a-half. Physically, she looks like a middle-distance filly."

Promise To Be True was second in the Prix Marcel Boussac last year but was some way below that form in the Guineas Trial when only sixth.

"I was happy with her at Leopardstown. Seven furlongs is as short as she'll ever want to go, as she's a filly that will probably get a mile-and-a-half," said O'Brien.

"She was forward enough in physical terms, but mentally she might not have really clicked in yet and that might have just caught her out on the day.

"She could go for the 1000 Guineas, the Irish 1,000 Guineas and then on to the Oaks. She will progress from race-to-race and will probably improve when she steps up in trip. She's a very solid, uncomplicated filly."