The formline to the 1000 Guineas will be further defined after the running of this race where a field of twelve fillies are lining up. Five of the entrants are last start winners including early favourite Politeness ($3.50) who shades Gregers ($4.60), Kiss A Rose ($5.50) and Marianne ($7.50) in betting.
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Thousand Guineas Prelude Form Guide
1. MONTSEGUR – D Dunn (11)
She competed in the Blue Diamond series earlier this year for the Darley operation with the pick of her runs coming in the Prelude when, leading from the jump, she held on for second behind stable-mate Guelph. She returned to racing with a fair effort behind Kiss A Rose (sixth, beaten 2.7 lengths) in the G3 Quezette Stakes before being taken to Sydney where she chased home Thump (good again since) and Sweet Idea in the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes. Poor draw here will see her get back and need to produce a career best.
2. KISS A ROSE – L Nolen (1)
Won on debut back in December of last year but we didn’t see the daughter of Sebring then until last month when she stepped out in the G3 Quezette Stakes (1100m). The wait was worth it for connections however as from the tail of the field, she stormed down the centre of the track to get the bob in on the line and register a nose win over Metastasio. She backed that up with another big finish down the Flemington straight in the G2 Danehill Stakes finishing second to Charlie Boy by ¾ length. Back to her own sex here is a big advantage and provided Nolen can get her in clear room from the inside gate, she’ll be storming home again.
3. LADY LAKSHMI – D Stackhouse (5)
Lonhro filly who won three in a row over the winter before taking on the better grade in the Listed Taj Rossi Stakes where, as 13/8 favourite, she finished 2 ¾ length fourth. Was given a freshen up by her training partnership of Brideoke & Feek after that run and returned with an average 7.2 lengths tenth behind Long John in the Listed Henry Bucks (1400m). Couldn’t have her here on that run.
4. THE HUNTRESS – G Boss (12)
Promising Husson filly trained by Mick Kent who claimed the Listed Catanach’s Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville at her second start and ran third in the G3 National Stakes at her next start again at Morphettville. She was then spelled and returned with a good effort behind Gregers at Moonee Valley (1200m) finishing second, beaten 1 ¾ lengths. Drawn wide here will not make her task an easy one.
5. VIVI VELOCE – C Newitt (10)
She won the G3 National Stakes at her third start for trainer Adelaide trainer Lloyd Kennewell, defeating The Huntress in the process, before being sent for a spell. The daughter of More Than Ready then resumed in an 3yo Open race (1250m) at Morphettville but blew badly in the betting (5/2 – 6/1) and ran accordingly, finishing a well beaten fifth of eight behind Hucklebuck. Couldn’t have her on that run where there appeared to be no clear excuses.
6. GREGERS – C Schofield (2)
A smart Commands filly from David Hayes’ yard who has won three of her five starts thus far including both starts this time in. She was very impressive at Moonee Valley first up, winning a BM 78 by 4 ¼ and returned to that track at her next start to win by 1 ¾ over the Huntress – leading all the way. She then stepped up to Group 2 company and against colts in the Danehill Stakes and handled the challenge well, finishing fifth (beaten 1 ¼ lengths) behind Charlie Boy. That was her first look at the Flemington Straight and the return to a turning course will be beneficial to here. Drawn well and will be in this for a long way.
7. MIRACLE TO ME – C Symons (4)
Progressive Bel Esprit filly who produced a big finish to claim a restricted fillies race at Lakeside in July before seven weeks later, stepping out over 1100m at Flemington in Open Class. The John McArdle trained galloper again appreciated the big track and finished too well to win by a head over Bulbula. Improving with racing but from her inside gate she’ll get back and being her first look at Caulfield, think she’ll find a few too slick.
8. MARIANNE – C Williams (6)
Impressive in winning a Cranbourne Maiden first up last month by 3 ½ lengths and better again when backing that effort up with another win at Caulfield in a BM 78. She sat on the speed in both and from six Williams will have her in the right spot throughout in the run. Whilst she’s taking another big step in terms of class, she is an improving filly and markets have opened her cautiously at $7.50.
9. POLITENESS – B Melham (7)
Didn’t have much to show for three starts earlier in the year however, the Street Sense filly has returned to racing in good style, claiming a sale Maiden by six lengths at her first run back before winning by a comfortable margin again (2 ¼) in a Seymour RST 64 Fillies and Mares race. Smart win last start and despite taking on a much stronger grade here, has opened up a clear favourite in first markets on Wednesday.
10. SE SAUVER – D Lane (5)
After finishing close first up in a Sale Maiden (third, beaten head) and again at her next start in the G3 Quezette Stakes (1200m), where she closed from the tail of the field to finish within a length of Kiss A Rose, she was taken to Pakenham where she comfortably claimed her Maiden victory by 2 ¼ lengths. Good effort in the Quezette and going to Pakenham for the confidence booster was a good move from trainer Matt Laurie. She’s over the odds at her current quote of $13.00.
11. JUDICIAL ROCK – D Gauci (3)
Leon Corstens must’ve had a good opinion of this daughter of Fastnet Rock as he kicked her career off in the Listed St. Albans Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in March. She finished a well beaten last and was immediately spelled. She returned to racing in a Swan Hill RST 94 race but again, finished last before going further afield to a Wodonga Maiden and, from the tail of the field, finished well to win by 1 ¼. It’s a long way in both distance and class from Wodonga to here.
12. FLAMETREE OF THIKA – R McLeod (9)
Zabeel filly who has been comprehensively beaten in a Sale and Bendigo Maiden at her two starts and entitled to start a big price here.
OVERVIEW
It is hard to line up this group of improving fillies with several form-lines to assess. Going on what we’ve seen though and it’s hard to go past Kiss A Rose and Gregers as the leading contenders. Kiss A Rose was sensational first up and strong against the boys in the Danehill Stakes as was Gregers. Gregers will be better suited to a turning track and from gate two, can camp right on the speed – generally a good advantage around Caulfield. Se Sauver is over the odds at $13.00 going on her Quezette run and subsequent easy victory at Pakenham. Expect to see her finishing well.
- GREGERS
- KISS A ROSE
- SE SAUVER
- MARIANNE