This Wednesday Caulfield Racecourse will host the next major mid-week meeting of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, the day headlined by the $500,000 Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
The 2010 Thousand Guineas has attracted a star-studded final field of 16 three-year-old fillies plus two emergencies, and is scheduled to take place as Race 6 at Caulfield on Wednesday.
The top-rated filly in the field likely to start as the odds-on favourite at [sportsbet] is the Gai Waterhouse-trained More Strawberries.
More Strawberries has enjoyed a sensational season to date, claiming her maiden two career wins in the Furious Stakes and Tea Rose Stakes before running a gallant second to Secret Admirer in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick last-start.
Making her Victorian race debut on Wednesday, More Strawberries has drawn ideally in barrier three and will have Nash Rawiller in the mount.
More Strawberries stablemate More Joyous enjoyed a brilliant win in her Melbourne debut on Saturday, storming home in the Toorak Handicap, giving trainer Waterhouse and owner John Singleton confidence More Strawberries can do the same on Wednesday.
Early favourite to win the Crown Oaks during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Brazilian Pulse is also set to line-up in the Thousand Guineas.
The Michael Moroney-trained Brazilian Pulse shortened into the $6 favourite to win the 2010 Crown Oaks on November 4 after her eye-catching second to Sistine Angel in the Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington a fortnight ago.
Brazilian Pulse has suffered a blow with a wide barrier 12 draw for Wednesday, however will still be a favourite with the punters as she overcame a horror gate 14 to finish in the money in the Edward Manifold.
The filly that beat Brazilian Pulse in the Edward Manifold, Andrew Noblet’s Sistine Angel is another in-form runner to watch in the Thousand Guineas.
Sistine Angel will attempt back-to-back wins from barrier 11 on Wednesday with Craig Williams in the mount.
Also expected to put in a big run is the Peter Snowden-trained Divorces.
Domesday filly Divorces is the second favourite in the early Crown Oaks betting after she won the Thousand Guineas Prelude last month.
However, a disappointing 11th in the Edward Manifold means the punters will be a little sceptical to back her on Wednesday.
Other notable fillies set to contest the Thousand Guineas on Wednesday include the John O’Shea-trained Ambers Waltz (barrier nine), Yosei (barrier six) and consistent Choisir filly Jesse’s Girl (barrier 13).
The 2010 Thousand Guineas is the only Group status race on the Caulfield card for Wednesday, but there are plenty of other quality events to enjoy a punt on.
Black type features on Thousand Guineas Day include the Listed Inglis Debutants Stakes (1000m) and the Listed Carsales.com.au Classic (1600m) featuring top mares Lady Lynette and Small Minds.
Betting on the Thousand Guineas will open shortly, so get ready to enjoy the best odds in Australia by signing up with [sportsbet] now and be rewarded with a free $300 bet as a new customer!
Note: #14 Ain’tnofallenstar and #16 Dizlago have been scratched from the 2010 Thousand Guineas
2010 Thousand Guineas Final Field & Barrier Draw
| # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Br. | Weight (kg) | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MORE STRAWBERRIES | Gai Waterhouse | Nash Rawiller | 3 | 55.5 | 99 |
| 2 | AMBERS WALTZ | John O’Shea | Glen Boss | 9 | 55.5 | 82 |
| 3 | SISTINE ANGEL | Andrew Noblet | Craig Williams | 11 | 55.5 | 97 |
| 4 | YOSEI | Stuart Webb | Michelle Payne | 6 | 55.5 | 97 |
| 5 | RINGA RINGA ROSIE | Bevan & Richard Laming | Dwayne Dunn | 15 | 55.5 | 88 |
| 6 | DIVORCES | Peter Snowden | Mark Zahra | 7 | 55.5 | 93 |
| 7 | JESSE’S GIRL | Peter Morgan | Blake Shinn | 13 | 55.5 | 84 |
| 8 | HEARTSAREFORLOVE | John P Thompson | James Winks | 10 | 55.5 | 72 |
| 9 | ALITTLEBITOFMONICA | Marc Conners | Danny Nikolic | 1 | 55.5 | 74 |
| 10 | PINKER PINKER | Greg Eurell | Chris Symons | 4 | 55.5 | 76 |
| 11 | BRAZILIAN PULSE (NZ) | Michael Moroney | Michael Rodd | 12 | 55.5 | 84 |
| 12 | MELTED | Leon Corstens | Brent Stanley | 14 | 55.5 | 72 |
| 13 | SUSSURO | Tony Noonan | Craig Newitt | 2 | 55.5 | 74 |
| 14 SCRATCHED | AIN’TNOFALLENSTAR | Lee Freedman | Luke Nolen | 18 | 55.5 | 71 |
| 15 | MARAASEEM | David Hayes | Steven Arnold | 16 | 55.5 | 70 |
| 16 SCRATCHED | DIZLAGO | Lee Freedman | Nicholas Hall | 5 | 55.5 | 66 |
| 17e | PARTY HARD | Anthony Cummings | Michael Walker | 17 | 55.5 | 66 |
| 18e | PLASTIC FANTASTIC | Anthony Cummings | – | 8 | 55.5 | 62 |
