Promising staying filly Aloisia will now head to the VRC Oaks after scoring a surprise win in the Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield today.

Aloisia, above, wins the 2017 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Aloisia was sent out at the good odds of $14 and thanks to a rails hugging ride from Luke Nolen, the Azamour filly was able to hold out the well performed Shoals ($4.40) with the $2.15 favourite Alizee battling away for third.
Nolen settled Aloisia in the second half of the small eight horse field and waited until half way down the straight before pushing up inside of the runner up Shoals.
Third placegetter Alizee was unable to produce her late burst that saw her win the Group 1 $500,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 30.
New trainer Aaron Purcell who took over the stable from the suspended Ciaron Maher, was saddling up his first Group 1 runner and now has a perfect Group 1 record.
“New to the job new to the team. We are trying our best to get the results,” Purcell said.
“First Group 1 runner, first Group 1 winner, it could not be going better.”
“Ciaron left the stable in great shape, the horses had their plans and everything has just fallen into place.”
Aloisa will now be set for the Group 1 $1m VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 9.
Thousand Guineas (1600m) Results
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | ALOISIA (NZ) | Aaron Purcell | Luke Nolen | 1 | 55.5kg | $14 | |||
2 | 1 | SHOALS | Anthony Freedman | Mark Zahra | 1.25L | 4 | 55.5kg | $4.40 | ||
3 | 2 | ALIZEE | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 2L | 2 | 55.5kg | $2.15F | ||
4 | 8 | SHE’S SO HIGH | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | 5.75L | 5 | 55.5kg | $18 | ||
5 | 7 | MINTHA | Tony McEvoy | Luke Currie | 6.15L | 6 | 55.5kg | $31 | ||
6 | 3 | BOOKER | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Dwayne Dunn | 9.9L | 8 | 55.5kg | $7 | ||
7 | 4 | PURE SCOT | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Ben Melham | 10.1L | 3 | 55.5kg | $26 | ||
8 | 6 | LEATHER’N’LACE | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 12.6L | 7 | 55.5kg | $15 |