Adelaide filly Miss Gunpowder has drawn the outside barrier in the eleven horse field of the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Miss Gunpowder has drawn the outside barrier in the Thousand Guineas. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Phillip Stokes trained Miss Gunpowder rocketed into Thousand Guineas calculations with a one length win over Payroll in the Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 26.
Top Melbourne jockey Craig Williams let Miss Gunpowder race on the pace from barrier eight last start and no doubt will have to use the same tactics from barrier eleven this Saturday.
Williams was impressed with Miss Gunpowder’s win in the Thousand Guineas Prelude after having to work a little bit in the early stages and said that she fought on well at the finish.
“We ended up doing a little bit of work early and it took a little bit for her to relax,” William said.
“When I asked for a solid hit out from her she really responded.
“It was a great training effort and she is a delight to ride.”
The Richard Laming trained Payroll ran a much improved race when runner up to Miss Gunpowder at big odds and Jim Cassidy will give her every chance again this week from barrier one.
The Ciaron Maher trained Jameka has been racing consistently with two thirds this campaign and kept her Thousand Guineas chances alive when she finished behind Miss Gunpowder and Payroll in the Thousand Guineas Prelude.
Mark Zahra takes over from the suspended Damien Oliver in the Thousand Guineas and has come up with barrier nine in the eleven horse field.
The Peter Moody trained Pasadena Girl has Hugh Bowman back in the saddle after the pair combined to win the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Pasadena Girl will be ready to run out a strong 1600m at her third run this campaign, her latest run resulted in a two and half lengths fifth in the Thousand Guineas Prelude.
The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Stay With Me has drawn nicely at four and will get her chance to make amends after never threatening when sixth to Miss Gunpowder but was a winner at her two previous starts.
The Street Cry filly scored a runaway win in a 1200m Pakenham Maiden on August 20 before winning the Listed $120,000 Telstra Phonewords Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 5.
Dwayne Dunn is riding in the best form of his career and will stick with Stay With Me in the Thousand Guineas.
Badawiya put her claims in for the Thousand Guineas with a two lengths win in the Group 2 $200,000 TAB Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington last Sunday.
Craig Newitt takes over from Damien Oliver and will be looking for plenty of luck in the early stages after drawing wide at ten.
