Two in-form fillies are battling for top spot in 2020 Thousand Guineas betting for this weekend with the Chris Waller-trained Hungry Heart narrow favourite to Adelaide’s Instant Celebrity her first defeat.
Instant Celebrity is looking to remain undefeated with a Group 1 Thousand Guineas victory this weekend in Melbourne. Photo: Jenny Barnes.
Fourteen fillies are engaged in this season’s edition of the Group 1 $1 million Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) including last Saturday’s beaten favourite in the Flight Stakes Hungry Heart.
Her second to Montefilia, who races in Sydney’s Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) this Saturday, was Hungry Heart’s third consecutive second placing this prep.
The nicely-bred daughter of Frankel will be out to atone on the short back-up here heading south for the Thousand Guineas over the same distance.
Despite having won just one of her six career starts and being unraced the Melbourne-way, Hungry Heart remains top of the Thousand Guineas odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
She pays $3.40 after drawing ideally in gate three with Hugh Bowman replacing James McDonald in the saddle.
Bowman chases back-to-back Thousand Guineas victories following his success on the Godolphin-raced Flit (2019) last year, while Waller won the event back in 2014 with Amicus.
The danger occupying the second line of betting at a close quote of $3.50 is Phillip Stokes’ undefeated daughter of Not A Single Doubt Instant Celebrity.
The classy chestnut is four-from-four heading into her first Group 1 assignment and should get a gun run from an ideal barrier nine draw.
Champion hoop Craig Williams retains the ride having guided her to a one length win at the track on September 26 in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude.
Instant Celebrity is now out to complete the Prelude – Thousand Guineas double for the first time since Irish Lights (2009) and keep her flawless record intact.
The rest of the Thousand Guineas field can be found at double-figures meaning there’s potential value to be had outside the dominant duo.
The current market mover backed into $12 is the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained Odeum in barrier four with Michael Walker aboard.
The lightly-raced Written Tycoon filly comes off an eye-catching win at the track from September 19 in Black-Type company and looks well-suited to a mile.
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott’s Flight Stakes third placegetter Vangelic ($11) also on a quick back-up and racing interstate followed by Godolphin’s last start Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes winner over the Flemington mile last weekend Thermosphere ($13) are the other best in betting.
James Cummings won the race 12 months ago with the aforementioned Flit and has high hopes Thermosphere can hand the Royal Blue brigade with successive victories this weekend.
“She has been marching around the stables this week like she owns the place,” Cummings told the media this week.
“It was encouraging how well she handled her first time going in this direction in the Manifold, also switching onto her Melbourne leg was no problem for her.”
Click here for the latest Thousand Guineas 2020 odds online courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
