Trainer Tom Dabernig is keen to claim a Group 1 win with Girl Guide and will target the Group 1 $400,000 Brown Baldwin William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night with the five year old mare.
Girl Guide is likely to head to Moonee Valley for the William Reid Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Girl Guide is also in the final field for the Listed $120,000 IVECO Melbourne Truck Centre Hareeba Stakes (1200m) at Mornington on Saturday but Dabernig and co-trainer David Hayes are keen to go to Moonee Valley.
“At this stage we’re leaning towards the William Reid with Girl Guide to try and chase a Group 1,” Dabernig told racing .com.
Michael Walker will be the new rider for Girl Guide replacing Dwayne Dunn who was aboard the Churchill Downs mare when second at her latest outing to Madam Gangster in the Group 3 $150,000 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 7.
She has drawn one from the outside at thirteen but Dabernig is not too worried about the wide gate and thinks it could be to her advantage.
“She’s drawn a bit wide there but she’s actually a bit better drawing wide than on the inside of horses,” Dabernig said.
Girl Guide finally found some of her Spring form with her last start second after two unplaced runs this campaign.
First up she was beaten almost four lengths when seventh in the Group 3 $150,000 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 14 followed by an eighth of eight in the Group 3 $150,000 Premier Sign Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield two weeks later.
But during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival Girl Guide was at her best with two wins and two seconds from five starts.
Girl Guide’s two wins came against the mares in a BenchMark 90 Handicap over 1200m at Moonee Valley before beating A Time For Julia in the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Sprint Series Heat 2 Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 20.
In an open betting race with Ladbrokes.com.au Angelic Light is the $5 William Reid Stakes favourite ahead of Rebel Dane and Vain Queen at $6, Earthquake at $7, Peron at $7.50 and Lucky Hussler also under double figures at $9 while Girl Guide is marked as one of the outsiders of the field at $31.
