Fallen Angel attempts to give Karl Burke his first British classic victory in the One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket May 5, and the trainer believes his star filly is the one they all have to beat.
Burke came close to Guineas glory when Laurens was runner-up to Billesdon Brook in 2018, before she gave him a breakthrough classic triumph in the Prix de Diane (G1) at Chantilly that year. He has another leading chance six years later with the Steve Parkin-owned daughter of Too Darn Hot.
A brilliant winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) when last seen competitively in September, she warmed up for this with a gallop at the track's Craven meeting and is primed to land more big-race glory on her comeback.
"On all known form, I think Fallen Angel deserves to be favorite," Burke said. "As we know, horses can improve from 2 to 3 and can also go backwards, but we think she's trained on.
"She looks fantastic in her skin and we're very happy with her. Her racecourse gallop 2 1/2 weeks ago jumped her forward and she's worked nicely at home since."
Burke could be double-handed in the expected field of 16 going a mile after his other Too Darn Hot filly—2023 May Hill Stakes (G2) winner Darnation—was also declared, but her participation hinges on the amount of rain Newmarket gets.
"We're going to take a view on the ground," he added. "Newmarket can dry out very quickly and I'd imagine if there's any firm in the going, she wouldn't be a runner. She's a very good filly in her own right and wants slower ground to be at her best."
Just like in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1), Aidan O'Brien relies on a sole runner as Ylang Ylang bids to give him a remarkable eighth One Thousand Guineas success.
The daughter of Frankel was a disappointing last of nine behind Fallen Angel when favorite for the Moyglare Stud, but ended her juvenile year on a winning note with a top-level victory over course-and-distance in the Fillies' Mile (G1).
Ylang Ylang bids to emulate Minding, who was the last horse to complete the Fillies' Mile and Guineas double for O'Brien in 2016.
He said: "It'll be interesting to see how she does as she works like a filly that'll get further. She didn't win the Fillies' Mile until the last half-furlong. We'll learn a lot more about her on Sunday.
"She's working well and is fit. We'll get a clearer picture of what route to go after, but we have it in our minds she could be an Oaks filly."
