Trainer John Sargent will wait until midweek to decide if Thunder Lady will take on the boys in the Group 2 $200,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Thunder Lady could take on the boys in the Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Sargent is keen to get Thunder Lady’s Autumn Carnival campaign started and has his eye on a three year old Group 1 double to follow on from her outstanding Spring Carnival form.
The Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 28 and the Group 1 $1m Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11 are high on the agenda for the Mastercraftsman filly.
In the Spring the lightly raced Thunder Lady went from being beaten in an 1850m Newcastle maiden in October to win the Group 2 $300,000 Racing.com Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and then went on to run second to Set Square in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 6.
“I won’t decide until after she works whether she runs in the Hobartville or waits another week for the Surround,” Sargent told AAP.
“I’m happy so far and if I think she is ready she will go to the Hobartville which is going to be a top race.
“She is a big, loping filly and obviously we won’t see the best of her until she gets to the longer distances but she has to start somewhere.”
If Sargent decides against running this week in the Hobartville Stakes, Thunder Lady will step out the following week against the fillies in the Group 2 $175,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on February 28.
The Hobartville Stakes nominations have attracted a high class group of three year olds including the 2014 Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win, Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes winner Scissor Kick and the 2014 Victoria Derby winner, Preferment, one of four Chris Waller entries.
Waller’s other entrants are Delectation, Harrier Jet and Kermadec who finished second, third and fourth to Scissor kick in the Group 3 $150,000 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on February 7.
Scissor Kick’s stablemate Panzer Division is also among the nominations for the Hobartville Stakes and is coming off a first up fourth to Weary in the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on January 31.
