A rare Group One Guineas double is on the cards for jockey Kerrin McEvoy and trainer Peter Snowden if Guelph can translate her odds-on favouritism into victory in Wednesday’s Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
McEvoy and Snowden have combined to win two of the past three Caulfield Guineas, with Helmet in 2011 and Long John on Saturday, but both jockey and trainer are chasing their first Thousand Guineas (1600m) with the $1.40 favourite Guelph.
McEvoy oozes confidence in Guelph’s ability and if successful on Wednesday will become the first jockey since Steven King in 2002 to win the Caulfield Guineas-Thousand Guineas double in the same season, while Snowden would become the first trainer since Bart Cummings in 1996 to achieve the feat.
“Any Group One is fantastic so it would be a great start to the big time down here in the 2013 spring,” McEvoy said.
“I obviously had a good weekend and hopefully I can build on it from here.”
Guelph won the Sires’ Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes at Group One level as a juvenile and has returned in sparkling form this spring with a close second first-up in the Furious Stakes over 1200m followed by dominant wins in the Tea Rose (1400m) and Group One Flight Stakes (1600m).
She has eight rivals in the Guineas with last start winner May’s Dream the only other runner under double figures at $8.
“It’s only a small field and obviously my filly is a deserved favourite. I’m looking forward to it,” McEvoy said.
“She was fantastic first-up and she’s had two lovely wins since then so she’s in great order and providing she turns up in as good a nick as last time she’s obviously going to be very hard to toss.
“I’ve got to ride her accordingly. I’ve got to ride her to give her every chance around Caulfield at a mile and make sure she’s in the clear at the right time.”
Guelph, who McEvoy rates the best filly he has ridden, will jump from barrier five with May’s Dream in gate three and last start Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Gregers in two.
Snowden and the Darley team have kept the door ajar for Guelph to contest the Cox Plate, but the trainer has preferred to concentrate on the Thousand Guineas first.
“The team will make a decision on that. I suppose she’s got to go there and blow them away on Wednesday to warrant going to the Cox Plate,” McEvoy said.
