Trainer Phillip Stokes is confident that he could not have talented filly Miss Gunpowder going any better ahead of the 2015 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on Saturday.
Miss Gunpowder made her racing debut with a comfortable two and a half lengths win in the Darley Handicap (1050m) at Morphettville on March 14 and she was immediately sent to the spelling paddock to begin preparations for a 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.
The Pendragon filly returned to racing with a comfortable win in the Irish Race Day Handicap (1100m) at Morphettville on July 25 and she was far from disgraced when third behind Petits Filous in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 15.
Miss Gunpowder returned to winning form when she led from start to finish in the Hughes Chauffeured Limos Handicap (1250m) at Morphettville on September 5 and she confirmed her status as a genuine Thousand Guineas contender when she beat the likes of Payroll, Jameka, Super Cash, Pasadena Girl and Stay With Me in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 26.
Stokes told Racing Ahead this morning that Miss Gunpowder had come through her Thousand Guineas Prelude victory without any issues and he is confident that the three-year-old is at her peak for the Thousand Guineas after she worked strongly this morning.
“Going into the Prelude we had her spot on and the fitness is there, so she has had an easy week,” Stokes said.
“She had an easy week and she had a gallop on the course proper this morning with a mate and Craig Williams rode her and she just did 800s even and she ran the last 400 in 21 and a half seconds.
“We are very happy with what we have seen.
“There is not much improvement in her, she is there and she is in good order.
“I am really looking forward to Saturday.”
Stokes has an outstanding record when he brings his horses to Melbourne and he is chasing his fourth win at the highest level of racing after previously winning the Australasian Oaks with Marju Snip (2006) and Maybe Discreet (2013) and the Emirates Stakes with Hucklebuck (2014).
Miss Gunpowder is currently available at 2015 Thousand Guineas odds of $6.50 and is on the third line of betting behind Lindsay Park-trained Stay With Me ($4) and Champagne Stakes winner Pasadena Girl ($4).