Trainer Tony Gollan has revealed that promising filly Traveston Girl is set to take up the running in the early stages of the 2014 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield this weekend.
Traveston Girl will make her Group 1 debut in the 2014 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Traveston Girl sat just outside the leader when she made her Melbourne racing debut in the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on September 13, while she was the early leader when fourth in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 28.
Gollan told Racing Ahead that he will not give jockey Damian Browne any specific instructions heading into the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m), but he said that he expects the veteran hoop to press forward on the daughter of Flying Spur.
“It is never ideal drawing the outside, but she is a forward running type of filly,” Gollan said.
“She will get across without too much trouble and get a good position.
“I think that she will probably make her way to the front.
“I will leave that to Damian and I guess it will be depending on the tempo inside of her.
“Whether she is in front or outside the leader, I won’t be too perturbed.”
Gollan was happy with the performance of Traveston Girl in the Thousand Guineas Prelude and he is confident that the three-year-old had taken plenty of improvement out of the tough run.
The leading Queensland trainer said that he is unsure whether 1600 metres will be the ideal trip for Traveston Girl, but he remains hopeful that she can run out the trip strongly and give herself the chance to play a part in the Thousand Guineas finish.
“I thought that she was good,” Gollan said.
“I thought that she was better than what she was at Flemington and I think that she has found some more improvement, so hopefully she will be better again on Saturday.
“I don’t know that she will relish it, but based on the way that she has been racing I don’t think that it will be a problem.”
The 2014 Thousand Guineas is a very competitive betting race and Traveston Girl is currently available at a quote of $12, while Champagne Stakes winner Go Indy Go ($4.60) remains a narrow favourite from Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Afleet Esprit ($5), last start winner Lumosty ($5) and Chris Waller-trained Amicus ($10).
