Trainer Kris Lees has revealed that talented filly Thump will be given the opportunity to score her maiden win at Group 1 level when she contests the 2014 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Thump stamped herself as a Group 1 contender with a strong win in the Surround Stakes at Warwick Farm. Photo by: Steve Hart
Thump was included in the nominations for the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) and Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m), which will both be held at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, but Lees has elected to drop the daughter of Red Ransom back in distance for the William Reid Stakes.
“The Coolmore Classic is strong as expected and while the William Reid Stakes is a tough Group 1, it looks the easier option of the two,” Lees told TVN this morning.
“I feel Thump is better suited at 1200m than she is at 1500, especially at the top level, and has also won around Moonee Valley.”
Thump returned to the races, following a stint in the spelling paddock, with a seventh place finish in the Group 2 Light Finger Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on February 22 before returning to her best form to upset the likes of Real Surreal, Sweet Idea and Guelph in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on March 8.
The three-year-old has two victories at Group level on her racing resume, taking out the Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) in impressive fashion during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival, but has been slightly disappointing ion her two previous starts at the highest level of racing.
Thump went into the Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick during the 2013 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival as an extreme outsider and tired badly in the final stages of the race to finish tenth behind Guelph.
She received betting support in the lead-up to the 2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day and was given a lovely run in transit, but was no match for Zoustar and Not Listenin’tome.
While Thump will not be taking her place in the Coolmore Classic, Lees will be represented in the Group 1 event; with Wiggle Stakes placegetter Sharnee Rose and New Zealand-bred Lucia Valentina to be included in the final field that will be released tomorrow.
Thump is set to face classy mare Samaready, consistent sprinter Spirit Of Boom, Danny O’Brien-trained Shamexpress and 2013 Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner in the William Reid Stakes on Friday.
