Phillip Stokes wouldn’t change anything about Miss Gunpowder’s preparation for the Thousand Guineas.
But the Adelaide trainer would like the filly to have a different barrier.
The last-start Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Miss Gunpowder has the outside gate in the 1600m race for fillies at Caulfield on Saturday.
“Everything has gone to plan the whole way through this preparation, the only thing that probably hasn’t is the barrier,” Stokes said.
Miss Gunpowder is considered among the main winning chances and shares the third line of betting at $6 with Edward Manifold Stakes winner Badawiya who will jump from barrier 10 in the field of 11.
Stay With Me, a daughter of 2006 Thousand Guineas winner Miss Finland, is favourite at $4.20 just ahead of Group One winner Pasadena Girl ($4.40).
Miss Gunpowder had barrier eight of 10 in the Prelude over 1400m last start and the filly crossed to take up the lead under jockey Craig Williams.
Jim Cassidy made a mid-race move on Payroll to hit the front narrowly coming to the home turn but Miss Gunpowder responded in the straight to win by a length in a performance which pleased her trainer.
“I’ve always maintained she would be better with a sit, but we haven’t had a chance to use it yet because we’ve always drawn wide barriers and had to use her speed to get across,” Stokes said.
“Craig will probably need to pull out a very good ride on Saturday. I’m not saying she’ll lead, but he’ll work it out.
“I think there’s a little bit of speed in it.”
Stokes said ideally he hoped Miss Gunpowder didn’t have to lead but will leave tactics up to Williams.
“He does a lot of homework so he’ll have a plan no doubt and he knows the filly now,” he said.
Stokes has always had a good opinion of Miss Gunpowder and the daughter of Pendragon has won four of her five starts with a minor placing in the Quezette Stakes in August.
“We’ve looked after her too,” Stokes said.
“We could’ve pushed on as a two-year-old and run her in a couple of stakes races in Adelaide but we did the right thing and tipped her out after her first win.
“We’re getting rewarded now.”
