Mornington trainer Mark Riley has high ambitions for Inner City Girl and will set the Echuca maiden winner on a path heading to the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 10.
Pasadena Girl is the early favourite for the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.
Inner City Girl was having her first visit to the races when she came from well back in the field to score a half a length win in the $20,000 Book Now – Melbourne Cup @ Echuca Plate (1000m) for three year old fillies and Riley has big plans for the Magnus filly.
“We’ve got bigger plans in store for her than this race,” Riley told racing .com.
“I think the form out of the race will be pretty strong and I think she’s a very good filly.”
Inner City Girl with Stephen Baster in the saddle was sent out the $4.40 equal second favourite on the back of a barrier trial win over 800m at Cranbourne on August 10.
Baster agrees with Riley that Inner City Girl has the potential to mix it with the best fillies in the upcoming Melbourne Spring Carnival.
“She began pretty well but couldn’t muster any early speed but to her credit she travelled nicely and bullocked her way through and all I needed was a bit of luck and she hit the line hard,” Baster said.
“I don’t think there were too many in this race that didn’t think they could win, quite a few of them looked impressive in their trials so it will probably turn out a strong form race.”
Runner Up Nina Rules ($4.40) raced on the pace while $4.20 favourite Darling Lili was out the back with Inner City Girl but failed to run on in the straight.
In early betting for the Thousand Guineas at Ladbrokes,com.au, Inner City Girl is listed as a $51 chance with the Peter Moody trained Group 1 Champagne Stakes winner Pasadena Girl heading the market order at $7 just ahead of Colin Little’s filly Jalan Jalan at $8 and the Gai Waterhouse‘s Golden Slipper runner up English at $10.
