The Anthony and Sam Freedman stable hold a strong hand in the Thousand Guineas with two of the top three fillies in the betting.
Zouzarella is the $3.50 market leader with TAB and is heading to the Group 1 Thousand Guineas over 1600m for three-year-old fillies at Caulfield on Wednesday while a decision is still pending on whether $7 equal third favourite Elusive Express will take her place.
Sam Freedman said Zouzarella had the credentials on the board to be winning the Group 1 contest but conceded it would not be an easy contest.
After winning her first two starts at The Valley, Zouzarella tasted defeat for the first time when second to Queen Of Dubai in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on September 25.
The stable has since “tightened the screws” to have the filly at her peak for Wednesday’s contest.
“It’s going to be a hard race,” Freedman said.
“There’s a few other fillies that are in good form, but she’s probably come on since her run at Sandown.
“A bit of rain around wouldn’t hurt her either. She’s performed well on soft, and she’s in good form.”
Freedman said Zouzarella shapes as though the trip will suit her, but at the same time said other fillies entered in the race would also appreciate the distance.
Freedman said Elusive Express would either start on Wednesday or be held back to run in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
Elusive Express landed her first stakes race win taking out the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 2 and was potentially being aimed at the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 4.
“That’s what we’re thinking, but whether we run her at the mile again, we’ll just work that out over the next couple of days,” Freedman said.
The final field for the Thousand Guineas, with barriers, will be declared on Monday.
