Booker ready for four-way Thousand Guineas battle

Brad Waters - Thursday October 12

Two star fillies stood in the way of Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra's last Thousand Guineas placegetter but a far more even field confronts the training duo's 2017 contender.

Advertisement
Booker will have a crack at Group I level in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Ellerton and Zahra prepared Sharnee Rose, who went into the 2011 Thousand Guineas as a maiden before finishing third to the subsequent multiple Group I winners Atlantic Jewel and Mosheen.

"There isn't an Atlantic Jewel in this race but I do think Booker is a better horse than what Sharnee Rose was at that stage," Zahra said.

The pair's last two Thousand Guineas runners have missed a place but Zahra says their charge Booker is a great chance after her fighting win in the Group II Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) on October 1.

Booker finds herself in an eight-horse field in this year's edition of the Thousand Guineas but Zahra says the $500,000 race will be an even contest, which could result in more speed than the Thousand Guineas Prelude.

"In saying that, the top four fillies, I don't think there is a lot between them," he said.

"Alizee is a good filly, Leather'n'lace is on the way up and Shoals is a pretty serious horse and they might put a bit more pressure on this time."

Zahra said Booker has had a light lead-in to the Thousand Guineas after fighting off Shoals and Catchy, who will tackle the Caulfield Guineas, last time out and completed her preparation with a short gallop at Flemington on Tuesday.

"She didn't need a lot of work because she had a tough run the other day so she just ran home (400m) in 24 on the grass with a mate. Did it on the bit," Zahra said.

"We just wanted to save a bit for raceday.

"She's probably not as pumped-up as she has been but that's a good thing because she can be highly-strung but since that race, she has been pretty settled."

Dwayne Dunn will be aboard Booker again in the Thousand Guineas and Zahra expects similar on-pace tactics.

"I think she'll roll forward and sit outside the leader but she could lead if it works out that way unless Shoals kicks up and makes us work to get there," Zahra said.

Booker is a $6.50 chance in Sportsbet's latest Thousand Guineas market.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Lucrative Pay Day For Adiella In Magic Millions National Classic
Coming off a last start second in the Group 3 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Mile (1600m), the Improving 4yo The Mission mare Adiella recorded her sixth carer victory, adding the $500,000 Magic Millions National Classic to her record.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Queensland Oaks
Unbeaten this preparation, Philia will be looking to emulate her half-sister Duais in winning the $1million Group I BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m) on Saturday, but a swarm of up and comers are nipping at her heels, so who are they?
€1.85million Sale-Topping Frankel Filly Wins Epsom Oaks for Coolmore
The Group I Epsom Oaks (1m4f) had a raging hot favourite in undefeated Godolphin entry Desert Flower, but she came up short in her first try at the classic trip going down to finish third behind the Aidan O’Brien trained duo Minnie Hauk (Frankel and Whirl (Wootton Bassett).
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hellbent's Sunrays Shines With Consecutive Stakes Wins
Saturday’s opening race at Eagle Farm, the Listed $160,000 BRC Show A Heart Stakes (1500m) saw Kelly Schweida’s talented Hellbent filly Sunrays record her second black type victory.
SWs in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel headline the June (Early) Online Sale
Stakes winners in foal to Wootton Bassett and Snitzel, along with a significant number of young, well-bred racing and breeding prospects headline another intriguing catalogue for the Inglis Digital June (Early) Online Sale.
Kicked out of Australia - Jan Brueghel Wins G1 Coronation
The horse kicked out of Australia last spring as not having suitable scans to race in the Melbourne Cup, Jan Brueghel showed just what we missed out on seeing when taking out the Group I Betfred Coronation Cup (1m4f) at Epsom overnight.
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday that featured some interesting winners including stakes-placed filly Horseshoe Hill, a couple of unraced youngsters by Zoustar and the highest priced yearling by Prague.