Trainer John Thompson believes that Thump is in excellent condition heading into the Group 1 2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington tomorrow but admits that classy colt Zoustar will be very difficult to beat if he runs up to his best form.

Thump is chasing her first win at Group 1 level in the 2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Thump has performed extremely well during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival; starting her campaign with a narrow victory over Sweet Idea in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) and finished a narrow third in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) before defeating Miracles Of Life in impressive fashion in the Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Thompson told AAP at he believes the daughter of Red Ransom has all the other fillies in the 2013 Coolmore Stakes field covered but said it is very difficult to stack up her form with the colts; with Golden Rose winner Zoustar the obvious danger.

“She is going as well as what she can go, I’m pretty confident of that, and it’s just a matter of how she measures up against all the colts,” Thompson said.

“There’s about four different form lines coming into the race.

“There’s horses coming back from the Caulfield Guineas, two Sydney colts coming through the Golden Rose, she is coming through fillies races and Missy Longstocking is the same.

“If Zoustar runs up to his Sydney form, he’ll win; it is as simple as that.”

Thump competed in a jump-out with a number of other Coolmore Stud Stakes contenders at Flemington last Friday and finished ahead of Zoustar, whose stud deal was completed yesterday, and Darley colt Sidestep.

Thompson said that he was very happy with the performance and believes that horses who have worked strongly down the Flemington straight have historically performed well in the Coolmore Stud Stakes; with Gold Edition (2006), Northern Meteor (2008), Star Witness (2010) and Nechita (2012) all winning jump-outs before prevailing in the Group 1 event.

“It was definitely a nice trial,” Thompson said.

“We weren’t out to break any land speed records, she did it nicely within herself and the couple of colts there were sort of pushed up a bit behind her so that gives you a little bit of confidence.

“History has always shown whatever trials well up the straight runs well.”

Thompson has an opportunity to become the first trainer in the last 30 years to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes in back-to-back years after winning last year’s race with Nechita.