Flemington trainer Mark Kavanagh is not ruling out an upset win by his filly Pickin’ Time in the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Trainer Mark Kavanagh is expecting a bold showing from his filly Pickin' Time in the Thousand Guineas. Photo by Taron Clarke.
Kavanagh admits that Pickin’ Time is going into the Group 1 for the fillies as a maiden, but has faith in her ability that she has shown from her five race starts to date.
“She is a maiden going into a Group 1, but she is a pretty well performed maiden,” Kavanagh told Racing Network..
Bookmakers think that Pickin’ Time has the job ahead of her and have marked her as a $15 chance.
Pickin’ Time has drawn barrier eight in the eleven horses field with Glen Boss sticking with the Fastnet Rock filly who will be racing without the blinkers after finishing just over two lengths from Afleet Esprit when sixth in the Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 28.
“Her work this morning was pretty good and we have taken the blinkers off her for Saturday,” Kavanagh said.
“One day when the marbles roll the right way, she is going to be pretty to watch.”
Afleet Esprit has drawn barrier one again in the Thousand Guineas and Damien Oliver is certain to give her another sweet ride after coming out the inside gate before winning the Thousand Guineas Prelude.
Like most of the fillies Afleet Esprit will be stepping up to the 1600m for the first time, but trainer David Hayes is confident The Bel Esprit filly will handle the extra distance.
“She is a filly that I think will run a really good mile,” Hayes said.
“I know she is by Bel Esprit and sometimes they are more noted for sprinting, but she has such a relaxed demeanor and she can run such fast sectionals.”
Go Indy Go is one filly that is proven over the mile after winning the Group 1 $400,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 26.
The Bernardini filly has had two runs back form a spell and showed marked improvement last start when third to Afleet Esprit in the Thousand Guineas Prelude.
Steven Arnold takes over from Clare Lindop and will settle Go Indy Go in the second half of the field from barrier six.
Peter Moody has put the blinkers on Bring Me The Maid who will jump from gate four with Luke Nolen to ride again.
Bring Me The Maid put in a lacklustre performance last start when seventh as favourite in the Thousand Guineas Prelude, but Moody is willing to forgive her for one indifferent run.
“I’m prepared to forgive her for one , I can understand maybe the punters not wanting to, but I’m very pleased with her condition,” Moody said.
Go Indy Go heads the market order for the Thousand Guineas at $4.60 just ahead of Bring Me The Maid and Lumosty at $5 and Afleet Esprit at $6.
The Chris Waller trained Amicus is the next in the betting at $10 ahead of Queensland filly Traveston Girl at $11.
