Ratings expert Daniel O’Sullivan has Pasadena Girl on top of his 2015 Thousand Guineas tips and he believes that the talented filly is a deserving favourite in betting markets for the Group 1 event that will be held at Caulfield tomorrow afternoon.
Pasadena Girl remains a narrow favourite in 2015 Thousand Guineas betting markets. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell
Pasadena Girl capped off a terrific two-year-old campaign when she took out the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 18 and she performed well without winning in both the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 5 and the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 26.
O’Sullivan told RSN that Pasadena Girl was not suited by the slow early tempo in the Thousand Guineas Prelude, but she still ran impressive closing sectionals and she is confident the Savabeel filly will relish the step-up to the mile.
“I think that Pasadena Girl is the big improver,” O’Sullivan said.
“She is the horse that I like and I really desperate to see some pace in this race because in the lead-up there she had absolutely no chance with the slow pace up front and the fact she was at the tail of the field.
“She was very, very good late, she ran clearly the best closing sectionals in the race and that put an asterix next to her for the step-up to the mile.
“She has the quality there winning the Champagne and that figure looks good enough to win this race.
“Peter Moody said that she has really come along in leaps and bounds in her overall appearance and manner, so I think she is one that will definitely improve and the market is offering quite a fair price to make the gamble.
“I certainly prefer her over Stay With Me.”
While O’Sullivan believes that Pasadena Girl is the horse to beat in the Thousand Guineas, he admits that it is a very open race and he rates Miss Gunpowder and Badawiya the main dangers, who are both taking winning form into the Group 1 event.
Miss Gunpowder led from start to finish in the Thousand Guineas Prelude, while Badawiya was too strong for her rivals in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Sunday and O’Sullivan believes that both fillies need to be resected in the 2015 Thousand Guineas.
“I think that Miss Gunpowder is naturally a good chance,” O’Sullivan said.
“She did a good job, although she was suited by the pace, to stave them all off.
“Badawiya was very impressive going to the 1600 metres last start and she really took a bit step forward in her ratings and that sort of performance is right up to winning this race.”
Pasadena Girl is currently available at 2015 Thousand Guineas odds of $4.40 with Ladbrokes and she is a narrow favourite from Badawiya ($5), Stay With Me ($5) and Miss Gunpowder ($6).
