The 2015 Thousand Guineas Prelude nominations have been released and Alaskan Rose is set to defend her unbeaten record in the Group 2 event that will be held at Caulfield on Saturday.
Stay With Me is one of a number of talented fillies that have been included in the 2015 Thousand Guineas Prelude nominations. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Alaskan Rose made her racing debut with a dominant four and a half lengths win in the Grand Hotel Frankston Handicap (1300m) at Sandown on August 12 and she proved that win was no fluke when she took out the Montague Tree Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.
The Encosta De Lago filly will face the toughest test of her racing career to date in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1600m), but trainer Mike Moroney is hopeful that the three-year-old will measure up in the race before she heads to the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 10.
“We think she’s very good,” Moroney told AAP.
“She’s two out of two but she hasn’t raced at black-type level yet.
“This will be her first go at black type and that’s always harder but we feel pretty confident she’s up to it, but I suppose the opposition are feeling the same way.
“Her main aim is the Group One so we just want to get her there at her best.”
Alaskan Rose will need to perform at her very best to defend her unbeaten record in the Thousand Guineas Prelude as a number of talented fillies have been included in the nominations for the $200,000 race.
Pasadena Girl stamped herself as a filly to watch when she took out the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and she lost no admirers when he returned to racing with a fast-finishing second in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 5.
Lindsay Park-trained Stay With Me took out the Atlantic Jewel Stakes in impressive fashion and that is set to be a key lead-up race for the Thousand Guineas Prelude; with Jameka, Don’t Doubt Marley, Badawiya and Sagaronne all a chance to back-up in the race.
A filly that will bring a different form line into the Thousand Guineas Prelude is Tony McEvoy-trained Miss Gunpowder, who has recorded three wins from her four race starts.
Miss Gunpowder made her Melbourne racing debut with a third place finish behind Petits Filous and Jalan Jalan in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 15 and she returned to winning form at Morphettville on September 5.
A surprise inclusion in the Thousand Guineas Prelude nominations was Jalan Jalan, who has not been seen at the races since her second place finish in the Quezette Stakes.
Trainer Colin Little said after the Quezette Stakes that Jalan Jalan would not have another race start during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but he has obviously changed his mind and the Foreplay filly looks likely to return to the races this weekend.
Andrioli, Bengal Cat, Effortless Miss, Fireworks, Italy, My Poppette, Payroll, Reemah and Super Cash have also been included in the 2015 Thousand Guineas Prelude nominations.
