News

Phillip Stokes on fire with Miss Gunpowder

29th Sep 2015

The Daily Telegraph - by Rod Nicholson - Saturday, 26 September 2015

South Australia’s premier trainer Phillip Stokes knew he had a quality galloper heading into Saturday’s Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield.

It wasn’t so much that Miss Gunpowder had won three of her four starts.

In fact, her only defeat — when third to Australia’s best filly, Petits Filou, in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield six weeks ago — confirmed the trainer’s high opinion of her.

The combination of the experience of travelling to Melbourne and racing at Caulfield was a major factor in Miss Gunpowder’s victory, along with an unflustered ride by Craig Williams who did not panic when Jim Cassidy, on runner-up Payroll ($41), swept around the field at the 600m to apply the pressure.

The $4.20 favourite fought on tenaciously in a muddling-run race to defeat Payroll by a length, with the consistent Ciaron Maher-trained Jameka ($9.50) a long-head away third.

SportsBet immediately slashed her Thousand Guineas quote from $13 into $7 third favourite for the 1600m fillies’ feature in a fortnight.

But the Peter Moody-trained Pasadena Girl, who started at $5 and was shuffled back to eighth at the 400m before running home well to finish fifth, took over Thousand Guineas favouritism by firming from $4.50 into $4.

The previous favourite, Stay With Me from the David Hayes/Tom Dabernig yard, drifted from $3.60 to $4.60 after failing to fire when sixth, contradicting her effort when winning the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley a fortnight ago.

Another disappointment was Alaskan Rose. The undefeated filly from Mike Moroney’s stable blew from $11 to $26 when she faded from fourth at the 800 to finish eighth, about six lengths from the winner.

Stokes said he would keep Miss Gunpowder in Melbourne at Moody’s stables until the Thousand Guineas.

“The secret was bringing her here (to Melbourne) before. Running so well behind Petits Filou (beaten less than 1½ lengths) gave me great confidence,” Stokes said.

Stokes bought the filly at the Inglis Classic sale for $60,000 and is convinced she will acquit herself well in the Thousand Guineas.

“The 1600m will suit, she now knows the (Caulfield track) and her pedigree (Pendragon) suggests she will run the trip.”

Williams said he would likely stick with the filly for the feature. “You can’t get off her after winning the Prelude,’’ he said.

“I am confident going into the Thousand Guineas.

“If she improves any she will be hard to beat.”