Booker does it the hard way in Thousand Guineas Prelude

Darryl Sherer - Sunday October 1

Booker upset favourite backers with a determined victory in Sunday's Group II Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield.

Advertisement
Booker winning the Thousand Guineas Prelude. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Punters backed last season's Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy into odds-on but were left lamenting after a positive ride from Dwayne Dunn aboard Booker.

Settled in second place on the quarters of Mahlani to the home turn, Dunn kicked Booker ($6.50) into a clear lead early in the home straight and while getting tired close home had enough in hand to hold the late finishes from Shoals ($5.50) to score by a neck with Catchy ($1.95 fav) a short head away third.

Mathew Ellerton, who trains the winner in partnership with Simon Zahra, said he thought Booker had earned the win the hard way.

"She did a bit of work early but we were always intending to be positive," Ellerton said.

"She was getting a bit tired towards the finish but she did well to hold on.

"She's a filly that doesn't get put under pressure at home and I think she's still learning how to let down."

Booker had placed both her starts this preparation at Group level and Ellerton said the daughter of Written Tycoon will now head to the Group I Thousand Guineas in two weeks time.

"That's where we will go, she probably didn't want it too much further today but she did do all the work early," Ellerton said.

"I'd say she's still got some improvement in her both fitness wise and race smarts."

Dunn echoed those sentiments.

"She's a lovely filly and hopefully she can win the Thousand Guineas," Dunn said.

"She had to do it hard early and then found for me early so she should have some improvement there."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Coolmore Favs get the Flemington Straight Experience in Jump Outs
Beiwacht, Beadman and Skyhook, three of the top four in the market for next month’s Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes had a jump out down the Flemington straight on Friday with Beadman quite the eye-catcher.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 MVRC Cox Plate
An emotional week in Australasian racing approaches its crescendo as we count down to the final Cox Plate before a radical new era in its history begins and we mourn the passing of one of its greatest champions.
NZB Breeze Up Footage Now Available to View Online
The highly anticipated Breeze Up videos for NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale are now available to view online at nzb.co.nz.
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
Winning Return for Blueblood I Am Invincible Filly
Last seen finishing an unlucky fourth in the $1million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic in May, speedy I Am Invincible filly Sisstainable returned from a spell at Moonee Valley on Friday night to score a tenacious win.
Good News Week for Geisel Park
Geisel Park’s black-type mare Laced Up Heels is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australian Sire Zoustar and an orphan foal has found a new mum.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
The Rosehill trials on Friday morning featured a couple of juvenile heats and both winners came out of the Widden Stud draft at Magic Millions with one topping the sale at $2.8million and the other selling for a modest $150,000.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Magic Millions First Digital Sale - Opportunities Aplenty
Bidding is now open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale with opportunities across all levels of the market for prospective buyers.