Minding justifies top billing in 1000 Guineas

Pre-race favourite Minding eased to a dominant victory in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on a triumphant day for trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Well-backed in the lead-up to Sunday's prestigious run over a mile for three-year-olds, 11-10 favourite Minding surged clear of the field under Ryan Moore to triumph by three and a half lengths.

And there was further joy for O'Brien as Minding's stablemates, Ballydoyle and Alice Springs, finished second and third.

Moore, who also rode Legatissimo to victory in last year's 1000 Guineas, having triumphed for O'Brien on Homecoming Queen in 2012, told Channel 4 Racing: She [Minding] is out on her own really, isn't she?

"I was expecting a bit more speed in the race. She's just faster than them and stays better than them. She's just faster than them all, you know."

Reflecting on his 1-2-3, O'Brien added: "We thought they were three very high-class fillies, and that's the way it worked out. It's marvellous."