Gregers in same mould as Thousand Guineas winner Commanding Jewel

Trainer David Hayes has put his Moonee Valley winner Gregers into the same mould as last year’s Thousand Guineas winner Commanding Jewel.

gregers

Gregers, ridden by Kayla Nisbet, scores a runaway win at Moonee Valley. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Hayes has targeted this year’s Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 16 for Gregers and his evaluation of the Commands filly was spot on with an awesome display to score a four and a quarter length win against the fillies at Moonee Valley.

Gregers was having her first run after finishing fourth to Miracles Of Life in the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in February and even surprised Hayes with the ease of the win.

“I thought she’d run well but the ease of the win took me by surprise,” Hayes told the Herald Sun.

“That was a bit special. What I liked was she did a lot wrong and still exploded away from them.”

“I wouldn’t have a better one for the Thousand Guineas at the moment. I think she’s a bit special.”

“Commanding Jewel won the same race last year and went on to win the Thousand Guineas and this filly is that type of horse.”

Hayes also puts Gregers in the same mould as his 2009 Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights, while he has also won the feature Spring Carnival for the fillies with Golden Slipper winner Miss Finland.

The top Melbourne trainer is in no hurry to step Gregers out again and has plenty of time to map out a Thousand Guineas program.

“I’m in no hurry with her. She’s a long way ahead after that of we’re we need to be,” Hayes said.

“I’ll see how she eats up. It could be a month but it could be sooner.”

Gregers. who was ridden by Hayes’ apprentice Kayla Nisbet, only beat a small field of fillies, but the way she put paid to them at the top of the straight was impressive.

Runner-up Metastasio is no slouch and was a Flemington and Caulfield winner before coming to the end of her campaign when eighth in the Blue Diamond.

The Team Hawkes trained Maroon Bay showed plenty of speed at her first race start but couldn’t match it with the winner and faded in the straight to wind up in fourth spot.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.