The Spring Racing Carnival wraps up this weekend with the final Group 1’s to be run and won. The Thousand Guineas will headline the feauture raceday with $1.5m up for grabs for the three year old fillies.
Run over the mile, the time honoured event used to be held much earlier in the Spring but it's endured a few changes in recent years and now joins the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes as the final Group 1 races of the Carnival.
Our thoughts on every horse can be found below. (Prices current at time of publish)
1. Too Darn Lizzie (7)
Price: $19.00
Too Darn Lizzie proved too good in the Thousand Guineas Prelude
under a masterful front running ride but she just faded late last start in the Vanity as the pressure was poured on early.
The daughter of Too Darn Hot has competed at a high level throughout her seven start career and she's certainly talented but her best performances have been when she's had it her way in front.
She'll have to work to cross from barrier seven and I don't see her receiving any favours up on speed.
2. Aeliana (11)
Price: $3.40
Aeliana has gone from straight to strength in her first racing preparation and given a six week let up, she's returned in fine order, producing two very impressive victories.
She burst through late to take out the Reginald Allen last month before making the trip south where she recorded a dominant last to first triumph in the Carbine Club Stakes.
The daughter of Castelvecchio relished getting out to the mile last time and from the wide gate here she looks well placed to repeat that performance under James McDonald.
3. Geegees Mistruth (12)
Price: $13.00
Geegees Mistruth made the journey across Bass Strait after notching up four successive wins in her home state and the Tasmanian filly has certainly proven up to the task.
Kicking off her campaign in the Quezette Stakes, she charged home to get within a length of all-the-way winner Drifting.
Given a six week let up, she was placed in both the Scarborough Stakes and Thousand Guineas Prelude and last start, was doing her best work late in the The Vanity after settling a long way back.
Both of her runs here have been full of merit and she looks well suited up to the mile.
Ben Melham goes back aboard but she will need plenty of luck off the wide draw.
4. Zeitung (4)
Price: $4.20
Zeitung comes off a deserved last start win in The Vanity.
Relishing the big Flemington straight, the Exceed And Excel filly powered down the middle of the track to pull away and score by over a length.
Beaten less than a length in the Furious, she then stepped out in the Scarborough Stakes at Moonee Valley where she charged home into fourth after settling back at the tail.
She was doing her best work late against the biased in the Thousand Guineas Prelude and looks ideally suited here out to the mile.
5. Double Marker (6)
Price: $16.00
Unbeaten after two starts, Double Market made the step from maiden to Group Two look easy and she takes another step up here at Group One level.
Prepared by team Hayes, the Castlevecchio filly showed a strong turn to foot to score over 1400m at Ballarat and then headed to the Valley three weeks later, where she again powered home from the back to take out the Fillies Classic.
She's already proven at the trip but there's a lot more depth to this field and she'll need to improve again.
6. Dominetta (9)
Price: $16.00
Dominetta has only had the four starts and has been prominent on each occasion.
Sent for a break after her debut run, she proved superior first up over 1100m at Warwick Farm.
Taking the step to stakes grade, she was terrific in the Reginald Allen with only Aeliana getting the better of her in the final bounds.
She was strong late in The Vanity and this half sister to Hartnell looks set to relish the rise to 1600m.
Craig Williams goes onboard for Gai and Adrain and if he can slot in and find cover off the tricky ally, she's sure to be in it for a long way.
7. Matisse (13)
Price: $18.00
There was a lot to like about the last start run of Matisse but I'm just unsure about her getting out to the mile.
With the blinkers for the first time in The Vanity she settled midfield, gave a strong kick and looked to have the race in her keeping 200m out but was just run down late.
The blinkers come off, with the visors going on which suggests she may have got to the front and waited for a mate, so to speak.
Her two prior starts had seen her hit the line strongly from the back but with the outside gate here, she does have the task ahead.
8. Another Prophet (2)
Price: $26.00
Another Prophet comes off a very pleasing effort to finish second in the Carbine Club Stakes.
The daughter of Brazen Beau won her maiden at Sale back in May before heading to the paddock and she's shown nice improvement in each of her four runs this campaign.
She certainly appreciated getting out to the mile last time but she was clearly beaten by Aelina and I can't see her turning the tables on her, here but she's drawn to enjoy a soft run and she'll be strong late.
9. Supercilious (1)
Price: $21.00
Supercilious has been placed in all four runs since scoring her maiden win back in July and the Written Tycoon filly just keeps improving.
She produced an eye catching run from the tail in the Crockett Stakes and her most recent effort in the Springtime Stakes, she again worked home strongly from the back.
She does take a big step up in grade but I think the mile will suit and the inside draw can see her settle within striking distance.
10. Lovelycut (8)
Price: $12.00
Lovelycut has performed well in all of her five starts to date and looks a smart filly with plenty of upside.
She made it back to back wins in July before heading to the paddock and returned with an eye catching performance to finish half a length second in the Gothic Stakes and she was solid last start in The Vanity.
The mile is a big query for the Reece Goodwin trained filly but she does everything right, she's very honest and I think she'll run a big race.
11. Benagil (10)
Price: $12.00
Benagil made a flying start to her career with back to back wins before heading for a well deserved break.
Scoring narrowly on debut over 1200m at Pakenham, she proved far too good at her next start.
A daughter of Manhattan Rain, she made her return in the Scarborough Stakes where she didn't have the best of luck and she's been solid in two subsequent runs, most notably last start, where she charged home late in The Vanity.
She'll relish the rise in trip and but still does a few things wrong which is proving costly.
The bubble cheeker goes son for the first to try her prevent her from laying in and if it has the desired effect, then she's certainly a live hope.
12. Let's Fly (5)
Price: $41.00
Let's Fly comes straight out of a Kembla Grange maiden but she did win in it in style.
The Flying Artie filly had been placed in two of three prior starts but with the rise to 1400m last time she was pressed forward to sit outside the leader and showed a strong kick to pull away and score by just under five lengths.
An improving type, she 'll appreciate getting out to the mile but this is a massive step up in grade and I'd prefer to see her in something easier.
13. Stage 'N' Screen (3)
Price: $12.00
Stage 'N' Screen kicked off her career in good style scoring a decisive two length victory at Seymour just over four weeks ago.
The Mark Walker trained filly then headed to headquarters on Melbourne Cup Day where, despite enduring a tough run, stuck on gamely to claim fourth in the Listed The Amanda Elliot over 1400m.
A daughter of Ace High out of an O'Reilly mare, she's sure to relish the rise in trip and from barrier three, she's set to enjoy a cosy run throughout under Daniel Stackhouse.
Selections:
1st – Zeitung
2nd – Aeliana
3rd – Benagil
4th – Dominetta
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