Musical Times captured the Fillies’ Mile and emerges as the primary contender for the 1000 Guineas
The Godolphin filly maintained her undefeated record at Newmarket, despite jockey William Buick having to wait several strides to find room down the home straight. She defeated Haven by a length, secured her first G1 victory, and established herself among the elite classic prospects for 2027
NEWMARKET, England (Special for Turf Diario).— Musical Times had to demonstrate far more than sheer speed and class to win the bet365 Fillies’ Mile (G1). The Godolphin filly arrived at Newmarket boasting three wins from as many starts and a seemingly unquestioned superiority, but race dynamics forced her to overcome a tricky passage before unleashing her full potential. When the gap finally materialized, she responded like a true champion.
With William Buick in the saddle, the daughter of Lope de Vega defeated Aidan O'Brien's representative, Haven(Wotton Bassett), by a length to preserve her unblemished record and capture her maiden G1 triumph.
Sent off as the prohibitive favorite at 4-9, she entered off a campaign featuring victories at Newmarket and Yarmouthprior to her commanding success in the May Hill Stakes (G2) at Doncaster.
Expectations were sky-high. Two seasons prior, Desert Flower (Dubawi) completed the exact May Hill-Fillies’ Miledouble for trainer Charlie Appleby and Buick before going on to glory in the 1000 Guineas (G1). Musical Timesnow had the opportunity to follow that exact blueprint.
Yet the race itself was far from straightforward. Buick found himself boxed in by traffic as the field turned for home, forced to bide his time and await an opening while her rivals attempted to close the trap. For a few anxious moments, the favorite appeared in danger of running out of time.
Then the parting came, Musical Times accelerated with remarkable change of gear, and ultimately asserted her class.
"I’m thrilled. After the first two furlongs we had to hold our breath a bit and see how things unfolded," Applebyadmitted.
"William knew he was riding the best filly in the race. He was hunting for the gaps, and when they opened up, she quickened very well."
The trainer noted that the race was heavily influenced by her towering favoritism.
"Everyone else was riding to beat just one filly—ours. But full credit to her and William, because they negotiated the traffic troubles and, once the room appeared, got the job done."
Appleby felt the final margin did not fully capture the obstacles his charge had to clear. Musical Times had to handle the demanding Rowley Mile, featuring its classic dip before the final climb, alongside a firmer surface than she encountered at Doncaster.
"When she got upsides the second horse, I knew she’d attack the hill well. One thing we’ve always seen with her is that she finishes her races with great strength," he explained.
"She had to dig deep, but she’ll learn a tremendous amount from that. She is still very much on the upward curve."
The handler also pointed out that the filly would likely have preferred softer ground and that her inexperience over the course added to the degree of difficulty.
"I think it’s a performance that deserves an even higher rating than the bare result suggests," he stated.
The victory also validated a vital attribute for her classic future: Musical Times possesses not only explosive speed but the stamina to sustain a powerful effort over a mile.
Bookmakers reacted instantly to the triumph, trimming her odds for the 2027 1000 Guineas from 4-1 down to 5-2.
Appleby made no secret that it will serve as her primary spring target: "I have no doubt she needed every bit of her class to win today, but on what we’ve seen she fully deserves to be among the Guineas favorites. She’s proven she stays a mile and that she hits the line strong."
The plan is to give her a winter break before returning to Newmarket in the spring for a racecourse gallop during the Craven meeting ahead of her classic assignment.
"We’ll put her away now. We’ll probably bring her here for a workout on the track and then head straight to the Guineas, if all goes well."
Regarding staying potential over further trips, Appleby adopted a cautious stance: "For now, I'd say she's a pure miler. She has tremendous natural speed and a brilliant turn of foot. Perhaps she could stretch out further, because you don’t always need to be a true mile-and-a-half stayer to win at Epsom. A miler who gets ten furlongs can certainly be competitive."
Haven also left a lasting impression. If Musical Times confirmed her status as the division leader, Haven emerged as a major winner in terms of future promise.
Aidan O'Brien's filly stepped up sharply in class following a maiden win at Dundalk, responding with a runner-up effort of immense merit, finishing just a length behind a much more seasoned rival.
"She's still a very young filly, she's progressing nicely, and I'm delighted with how she ran," O'Brien remarked.
"We always thought she was smart and I think she'll be a very interesting filly next season. The winner is big and mature, so we couldn't be more pleased."
For the Ballydoyle maestro, Haven's future likely lies over longer trips than those best suited to Musical Times: "I'd imagine she's probably an Oaks type. A mile and a quarter to a mile and a half should suit her down to the ground. She's going to be a middle-distance and staying filly."
Thus, the Fillies’ Mile delivered two notable names to follow through 2027, albeit with potentially divergent paths.
Musical Times wrapped up her juvenile campaign unbeaten in four starts, collecting a G2 and a G1 along the way, establishing herself as the marquee name for the upcoming 1000 Guineas. Haven, meanwhile, suggested her best days are still ahead once she tackles stiffer stamina tests.
For Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, the road to the English spring already boasts a leading light.
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