Catchy running against the boys in the $2 million feature of Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Day has dimmed the focus plenty on the fillies in the Thousand Guineas 2017 on Saturday, but there is still a winner to pick and money to win.
Prelude winner Booker is the Races.com.au tip to win Saturday’s 2017 Thousand Guineas over the Caulfield mile. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) attracted only eight three-year-old fillies and is set to run as Caulfield Race 6 at 3:15pm (AEDT) on Saturday.
The first three in the markets are under single-figures with Alizee ($2.20) dominating Thousand Guineas betting after winning the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) over the distance in Sydney last time out.
The Godolphin-raced Alizee is a wonderfully-bred daughter of Sepoy who chases a third win on the trot in her Melbourne debut.
She had over two lengths to spare over her closes rival in the Flight Stakes so is well-proven at a mile and out to do the double achieved by Global Glamour (2016) just last spring.
Booker and Shoals ran one-two in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m), beating the third placed Blue Diamond winner Catchy, and they get the chance to frank that form in Saturday’s Group 1.
There’s more support for the Prelude runner-up Shoals however to return to winning form after she won her opening four career starts before stepping up in distance.
Booker pays $7 to do the double, while Shoals has firmed in from $5 to $4.20 in the latest Thousand Guineas odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Earlier in the week we published a full Thousand Guineas 2017 Form Guide & Betting Preview and below we look at whether the first three in the markets will be saluting in the trifecta on Saturday.
1st
#3 Booker ($7)
There are a few suggesting this Written Tycoon filly won’t run out a strong mile after having just a quarter-length to spare on the line in the Prelude, but our guess is she’ll set a hot pace up front and go all-the-way. She is at a generous price and jumps from the same barrier (8) that Global Glamour won from in a far bigger field last year. She’s yet to finish out of the money and has the best Caulfield track form so far. She’s a chance and at the nice odds.
2nd
#2 Alizee (Ladbrokes.com.au)
Big wrap on the favourite after the impressive Flight Stakes win, can she do the same in Melbourne and emulate Global Glamour? No doubt she’s done everything right in the lead-up and her finishing pace is outstanding. What form do you follow in, Sydney or Melbourne? Claims for both and she’s been very good so don’t think there will be much in the finish.
3rd
#6 Aloisia ($10)
Double-figures seems generous for this filly, now with Aaron Purcell, who is second-up and out to improve on a lead-up fifth behind fellow Thousand Guineas runner Leather’n’lace over 1400m at the track on September 23. She’ll be fitter for the run and in her two previous second-up starts has been second past the post. The mile suits, proven by her very close second to Capital Gain in Brisbane’s Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) in June. Danger for the upset.
Get in on our insider Thousand Guineas 2017 betting tips now at the right price through Ladbrokes.com.au.
