Miss Gunpowder will go into the 2015 Thousand Guineas as one of the favourites after she took out the 2015 Thousand Guineas Prelude in tough fashion at Caulfield this afternoon.
Miss Gunpowder scores a comfortable win in the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Miss Gunpowder was able to take up the running without a great deal of exertion in the early stages of the Thousand Guineas Prelude and she had a fairly comfortable run in transit until the 600 metre mark before Jim Cassidy made a move on Payroll.
The likes of Pasadena Girl and Stay With Me made their moves coming around the turn, but Miss Gunpowder was able to kick away from rivals and she never looked like getting run down in the final stages of the race.
Jockey Craig Williams admitted that not everything went completely to script throughout the Thousand Guineas Prelude, but the leading hoop was thrilled with the way that Miss Gunpowder was able to respond when she was asked for an extra effort.
“We ended up doing a little bit of work early and it took a little bit for her to relax,” William said.
“I had Ollie outside of me and then we were able to have a nice two furlongs and then Pumper started to make his move.
“I was really mindful that my girl was having her first run at 1400 and did a bit of work early, so I cuddled her around the turn and once I straightened she came back underneath me and when I asked her to lengthen she was good.
“When I asked for a solid hit out from her she really responded.
“It was a great training effort and she is a delight to ride.”
Trainer Phillip Stokes elected to take Miss Gunpowder back to Adelaide after she finished third behind Petits Filous in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 15, but he confirmed that she will remain in Melbourne until she returns to the races in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 10
“She has very good gate speed and we weren’t concerned if we had to lead,” Stokes said.
“I think she is better with a sit, but she got the job done today.
“We had her very fit and it is just a matter of keeping her together for the next two weeks.
“She will stay here and she will have a very easy time.
“She is as fit as I can have her and we just need to keep her together now.”
Stay With Me and Pasadena Girl were both not suited by the way that the Thousand Guineas Prelude was run, but they both produced credible efforts as they build towards the Thousand Guineas in a fortnight.
