French Filly Miesque 1,000 Guineas Choice

NEWMARKET, England —  Miesque is favored to become the first French winner of an English thoroughbred classic race in four years in the $120,000-added 1,000 Guineas Thursday.

The filly showed top form as a 2-year-old, using a late run to beat another of the top entries, Milligram, in the Prix Marcel Boussoc at Longchamps last October. Earlier this spring, she won the Prix Impudence on a bad track.

Oddsmakers had the Freddie Head-ridden Miesque a 5-2 favorite Wednesday to capture the mile race for 3-year-old fillies at Newmarket and avenge the disqualification of her sire, Mureyes, in the 2,000 Guineas in 1980.

It would make the second year in a row that the Marcel Boussac winner had come back the next spring to take the 1,000 Guineas. Midway Lady followed that course to the winner’s circle in 1986.

The last French horse to win an English classic was Ma Biche, in the 1,000 Guineas in 1983.

Interval, ridden by Pat Eddery, is expected to give Miesque her toughest competition. Interval won the Masaka Stakes at Kempton this spring.

Two other top entries are Minstrella, ridden by John Reid, and Milligram, ridden by Walter Swinburn.

Among the rest of the field, the best chances for finishing in the money go to Invited Guest, with Steve Cauthen up, and Raahia, ridden by Ray Cochrane.

If all 14 entrants start, the winner will earn $134,251.