The Wiz is ready for another Group 1 Guineas event as he goes through the runner-by-runner for the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
It looks a very open market on first glance!
#1 Swift Witness
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
One of the likely pace setters who is going to be tested by the wet weather predicted for Melbourne.
She is rock-hard fit, which helps her cause.
Just lacks the brilliance and star factor to really be a genuine Group 1 winning contender.
She probably needs to get full control of the lead to be a serious hope, but her stablemate and a few other runners are likely to kick up inside of her.
Odds: $11 the win and the $3.4
Finishing position: Sixth
#2 Hinged
Chris Waller
A newly acquired filly to the Chris Waller stable who has been well supported in early Thousand Guineas markets.
She surprised punters by almost taking home the Flight Stakes (1600m) at Rosehill last start as a $20 elect.
Taking the stand that the market got it wrong last start and that she is a much better horse than it suggested.
She thrashed Swift Witness despite starting triple her price.
Damian Lane takes the ride and if the track was anything to go by on Guineas Day last Saturday, the midfield run and angling to the middle might just very well be the place to be.
A near-lock for a top-two finish based on her last start effort.
Odds: $4.2
Finishing position: Second
#3 Elusive Express
Anthony & Sam Freedman
The market is considering her the second hope from the Anthony & Sam Freedman.
The three-year-old filly might just become the best hope if the best ground to be in is out wide on the course with the inclement weather predicted.
She was a very smart winner in the Edward Manifold (1600m) at Flemington last start, albeit not in a time that would have her competitive in a Group 1 mile.
Being sired Jakaalberry will probably see her progress to the staying trip of the Oaks.
Expecting her to settle towards the rear of the field and then crush the line late in the race.
Odds: $8.5 the win and $2.7 the place
Finishing position: Third
#4 Bon's A Pearler
Kevin Corstens
Has strung together wins in a row including the Thousand Guineas Prelude at her most recent start.
She did a great job to chase down Heresy at a $26 chance.
The knock on her is that all her form comes on good ground.
She is going to have to handle a wide barrier and a soft surface on Wednesday.
Happy to risk her despite the winning form.
Odds: $19 the win and $5 the place
Finishing position: Ninth
#5 literary magnate
matthew williams
Might be favoured by a downpour with her only win being on super heavy ground.
Struggled to keep up with most of the field in the Jim Moloney last start.
Tough to see her making an impact in this race.
Odds: $41 the win and $10 the place
Finishing position: Twelfth
#6 Zouzarella
Anthony & SAm Freedman
The leading chance in the race who will be trained to the minute for her grand-final event.
She produced two devastating victories at Moonee Valley in her first two starts and was then given what looked to be a real ‘prepare her for the Thousand Guineas’ run.
The three-year-old filly settled back last in the Listed Jim Moloney and rocketed home up the middle of the Sandown straight to finish a length off $26 winner Queen of Dubai.
It was a brilliant effort full of sustained speed and it will have her peaking for this race.
She can produce her sprint on rain effected ground or dry ground. Neither surface will phase her.
Hoping the fence is not the worst place to be at this time of the race, but Brett Prebble is riding like a demon possessed at the moment and he will do everything possible to give her the best possible chance.
Odds: $4.4 the win
Finishing position: First
#7 Heresy
James Cummings
Had every conceivable chance to win the Thousand Guineas Prelude and failed to do so.
She was run down by Bon’s A Pearler.
She must be considered because the ‘GOAT’ Damien Oliver is riding her, but she would want to improve dramatically.
However, we must respect the stable and owners.
Odds: $26 the win and $6 the place
Finishing position: Fifth
#8 Queen of Dubai
Gai Waterhouse & ADrian Bott
Found an extra gear with the winkers going on for the first time last start.
She did, however, have everything go her way as a $26 shot leading on a firm surface at Sandown.
She will not able to control the lead on her terms this time and there is no way known she will hold out the finishing burst of Zouzarella.
Odds: $20 the win and $5.5 the place
Finishing position: Seventh
#9 Yearning
M, W & J Hawkes
Tough to see her turning the tables on Elusive Express.
The Hawkes stable are not really known for their fillies.
Seems the right price and it would be a big shock if she won.
Odds: $26 the win and $6.5 the place.
Finishing position: Eighth
#10 Barb Raider
Jerome Hunter
Jerome Hunter’s stable star.
She is considered a leading in the VRC Oaks and has accepted for this race after a brilliant win the Oaks Trial.
Not sure she quite has the brilliance of the top two picks, but is definitely a top four chance as she progresses to the staying distances.
Her price is very short and does not represent much value.
Odds: $6 the win and $2.10 the place
Finishing position: Fourth
#11 Cuban Link
Greg Eurell
Won a four-way photo finish at Flemington in BM-64 grade.
Not good enough for this.
Odds: $41 the win and $10 the place
Finishing position: Eleventh
#12 Achira
Lee & Cherie Curtis
If a Goulburn maiden form line is good enough to win a Thousand Guineas, we may as well just give up.
Odds: $101 the win and $26 the place.
Finishing position: Last
#13 Fortunate Kiss
Edward Cummings
Was a touch unlucky in the Jim Moloney when she raced in restricted room for the majority of the home straight.
She was well backed on an each-way basis that day which gives us the guide that she has Group talent.
Group 1 races at this stage in her career look a bit beyond her.
Odds: $20 the win and $5.5 the place
Finishing position: Tenth
#14 Zerelle
Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
Was involved in a blanket finish with a photo finish needed to seperate him and three other horses.
That race was a BM-64 and is no where near the class of this field.
Odds: $101 the win and $26 the place.
Finishing position: 14th
#15 Riverplate
Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
An intriguing runner who can improve with the blinkers going on for the first time.
That said, what he has dished up to date has not been good enough to win a race let alone a Caulfield Guineas.
Odds: $41 the win and $8.5 the place.
Finishing position: Fifteenth
#16 Prix De Turn
Matthew Brown
Defied his starting price of $41 on debut last start ot suggest he has a nice level of talent that will be winning races.
Set an impossible task to win a Caulfield Guineas at only a second career start.
Odds: $31 the win and $7 the place
Finishing position: Thirteenth
#17 Hitotsu
Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace
First emergency.
Will need a scratching to get a run, but can finish better than his odds suggest.
Odds: $31 the win and $6.5 the place.
Finishing position: Twelfth
