Footsteps filly J Wonder stars in G3 Fred Darling

J Wonder (3f Footstepsinthesand-Canterbury Lace, by Danehill) stormed clear of a classy field to show off her Classic credentials when winning the G3 Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

Andrew Rosen’s Footstepsinthesand filly has now won three of her four starts and trainer Brian Meehan will next run her in either the G1 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket or the French equivalent.

“I'm very pleased and she has proved to be the filly we thought she was,” said Meehan. “This wasn’t a shock by any means. We came here thinking she had to be in the first three on what we knew of her from last season.

"She was brave as she had to come through horses and Jimmy (Fortune) got off and said he felt she won very easily, she just pricked her ears when she hit the front and just needed one slap to keep her mind on the job.

“We thought she was special last year and she looked good today. She's in the French and English Guineas and I'll have to speak to the owner and Jimmy. We'll have a proper conversation, put it all together and decide.”

J Wonder, who was bought for $300,000 as a foal at Keeneland by Hugo Merry, is a full-sister to G1 Matron Stakes heroine Chachamaidee (7m Footstepsinthesand-Canterbury Lace, by Danehill) and is out of a half-sister to G1 1,000 Guineas winner Virginia Waters.

She continued a fabulous start to 2014 for Footstepsinthesand, who is standing for €10,000 this year.