No distance fears with in-form NZ 1000 Guineas contender

So Fear’s last-start performance went a long way toward dispelling any fears of her ability to shine over more ground.

The daughter of Ardrossan was out on her own at the end of 1400m against a competitive age-group line-up at Hastings to boost confidence in her Group1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) prospects.

“She won really well, she’s a very good filly and the way she ran it out, I don’t see any reason why the mile would hold her up,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.

So Fear will have an early look at Riccarton on Saturday when she tackles the Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1400m) ahead of her return for the Guineas, where she is now a $16 chance in the pre-post market.

“She’s doing everything right and will go down to Christchurch tonight,” Marsh said.

So Fear had the blinkers on for the first time at Hastings, where she was quickly into stride to lead and, despite being taken on, surged clear at the top of the straight to win with authority.

“She’s an absolute dream and has as good a temperament as you could get,” Marsh said.

“That’s why we put the blinkers on; we just felt that she was just getting a bit too relaxed and taking it all a bit easy. They really sharpened her.”

So Fear will combine with Courtney Barnes, who has been aboard in all three of her wins.