Market drifter Music Bay is well over the odds for the 2018 Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday according to trainer Phillip Stokes.
Linda Meech, above, rides Music Bay in the 2018 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Music Bay has drifted in the betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Thousand Guineas from $19 to $31 then back into $26 on race eve on the back of her last start sixth to Smart Melody in the Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on September 30.
Stokes said that the filly had pulled up with bruising to one of her heels and he is willing to forget the run.
“She pulled up a bit sore after her last run,” Stokes told AAP.
“She had bruising in the inside heel so we’ve done a few shoeing changes and that seems to be OK. She’s fine.
“It’s a tough race but this has been her goal.
“Outside of her last run, if she had run well she would be right in the market. But after they have one (bad) run here they just seem to put a line through them.”
“If you go back to her previous runs, she ran super first-up,” Stokes said.
“I feel getting to the mile is her distance. I think she’ll be better at Flemington than Caulfield, but she’s done enough work at Caulfield now to be familiar with it and I’m hoping for a good run.”
Stokes has reported that Music Bay has recovered from her minor setback and has pleased the trainer with her work on Tuesday morning with her stablemate Assertive Play.
“She worked very nicely and pulled up well in the wind,” Stokes said.
“I’m happy enough with where her fitness is at.”
Music Bay has drawn barrier five in the fifteen horse Thousand Guineas field and will be ridden for the first time by Linda Meech who replaces Craig Williams who was aboard the filly for her first up second to Smart Melody in the Listed $120,000 Cap D’Antibes Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on September 15 and her last start sixth in the Thousand Guineas Prelude.
“From barrier five she doesn’t have to do any work. She can just come out and be where she’s comfortable,” Stokes said.
“That’s made life easier for Linda, and she’ll get her chance.”
The Kris Lees trained unbeaten filly Smart Melody is the short priced $2.90 favourite for the Thousand Guineas at Ladbrokes.com.au well in advanced of Thrillster at $6.50 and El Dorado Dreaming at $7.
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