Legatissimo takes 1000 Guineas honours

It was almost a case of deja vu as Ryan Moore completed a magical weekend on Newmarket's Rowley Mile when showing his strength in the saddle aboard Legatissimo in the Qipco 1000 Guineas.

Twenty four hours after gaining his first 2000 Guineas on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Gleneagles in the same colours, the 31-year-old stole the show again with a power-packed ride aboard the 13-2 shot, this time for David Wachman.

In doing so, Moore became the first rider since Kieren Fallon in 2005 to do the big-race double on Guineas weekend.

With his original mount and ante-post favourite Found an absentee at the declaration stage, it looked as if Moore's chances of landing a second winner of the mile fillies' Classic after Homecoming Queen in 2012 had been significantly reduced.

However, he found a more than suitable substitute with the engine and heart of a champion.

Last at halfway, Moore bided his time waiting for the right moment to make his move, as Tiggy Wiggy and Redstart cut out the running.

Redstart gave way, but Tiggy Wiggy continued to gallop on resolutely in front, although it was not long before the Jim Bolger-trained Lucida powered past in a move which looked to have put the race to bed.

With Moore now in full flow, Wachman's filly, who only won a Listed heat at Gowran Park seven days ago, started to reel in the 9-2 favourite, and soon enough her stamina saw her move into a lead she was not to give up.

Lucida battled back but it was not to be, as she went down fighting by three-quarters of a length, with Tiggy Wiggy another four and a half lengths back in third, gifting the Irish handler his first English Classic success.

Wachman said: "She's a lovely filly, a big, scopey filly, and Ryan gave her a great ride.

"Over the winter she showed me she could be classy, but we went to Leopardstown early this season and she was beaten in soft ground and we were scratching our heads a bit.

"She won very well in Gowran last week, it was like a bit of work - we were taking a chance coming here so soon, but it worked.

"I knew that if it didn't come too quick we definitely had a chance. The step back to a mile was never a worry for me as she has plenty of pace.

"She is in everything, so the Oaks is a possibility, but it might be that a mile and a quarter is the magic number.

"She'll go further, we have got plenty of options - she's won her Group One now, so the pressure is off."

Moore said: "Once we were getting the room I was confident of picking them up, as she travelled very well. She saw it out in really good style as she is a good, tough, hardy filly.

"I am lucky to have picked up two good rides. I was a bit gutted when Found was not running as she is an exceptional filly and I was looking forward to riding her, but it has worked out well as I found another great one."

Part-owner Michael Tabor said: "It's hard to believe, to win the first two Classics of the year - it's what you dream about.

"I was joking with Ryan yesterday saying I'd never done the double and I said 'perhaps it will happen' but never really thinking it would.

"She only ran a week ago and David said she'd run well as long as we weren't running her back too quick.

"If David has the right animal then he produces."

Bolger may look for compensation in the Irish equivalent, before a trip to Royal Ascot.

He said: "There are no excuses. I'd have to be very happy with her. It would have been lovely to win, but there you go.

"Her next run is more than likely to be the Coronation Stakes (at Royal Ascot) but there's a possibility of the 1000 Guineas at the Curragh in the meantime. I'm fine. I'm long past being disappointed.

"Kevin (Manning) said she ran her heart out, he was very happy with her.

"Nine years out of 10 that run would have been good enough to win."

As for Tiggy Wiggy, trainer Richard Hannon is planning a return to sprinting.

He said: "I am delighted with that run. She has run a super race and is very brave to have managed to finish third in a Guineas. She will be dropped back to six furlongs at Royal Ascot now.

"She is massively popular and it was great she got a good reception. Hopefully a lot of people will go to watch her run at Ascot."

Sky Bet quote Tiggy Wiggy at 4/1 for the inaugural Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Mick Channon, meanwhile, was left looking at going in the opposite direction and planning a possible tilt at the Investec Oaks for Malabar.

Channon said: "I'm chuffed with her. She's a very nice filly and I think she will be better when she gets a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half. It will be interesting to see.

"The mile just had her on her head a little bit, but she ran all the way to the line. I'm well pleased really, in the sense I'm disappointed we didn't win, but she's run well.

"I think she's an Oaks filly. It's a possibility. I think if we went to Epsom, we'd have to take in a trial, we'll have to talk about that, but it's worth a pop. Listen, we won't be frightened to have a go."

Sky Bet cut Legatissimo to 4/1 from 25/1 for the Investec Oaks and spokesman Michael Shinners said: "Legatissimo has propelled her way to the front of the market in our Investec Oaks betting. 

"It was a very taking performance by the daughter of Danehill Dancer and it will take a good performance in the coming trials to knock her off top spot in the betting for the next fillies' Classic at Epsom in June."

Malabar is a 20/1 chance in the same market.

Leading fancy Jellicle Ball ran no sort of race, finishing down the field in 12th.

Trainer John Gosden said: "I think she was unhappy on the ground, as that was not her running.

"She had a scope afterwards and that came back clear."