Michael Dee’s confidence for Saturday’s Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield remains high, despite Regal Ambition drawing barrier 11.
The Lindsay Park filly, whom Dee has ridden to two victories this preparation, will contest the $1 million Group 1 event.
Dee first rode the daughter of Palace Piere in a Pakenham jumpout on August 25 and immediately felt she had the potential for top-level racing. “The first time I sat on her was her second jump out on the Pakenham Synthetic and she gave me a really good feel that morning,” he remarked.
He commented on her physical build and racing style: “She’s got a big action, she’s not a big, strong filly – she’s quite tall and leggy – and eventually she might strengthen up and fill out into a frame a little bit more, but now she’s got that lovely action and great turn of foot.
“Very early in the spring I probably didn’t know what she was capable of, but when she won at Sandown, that’s when I had something to really look forward to and then last start I thought she was the one that’s a chance to really boost my spring.”
Regal Ambition, racing under The Racing League’s Vic Husslers’ colours, moved to the top of the Guineas betting markets after triumphing in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes (1440m), overcoming then-favourite Pretty Baby. This followed her maiden win over 1200m at Sandown.
Her sole other start was a second placing to Tolaga Bay in a 1200m Ballarat maiden in February, with Lachlan Neindorf aboard.
Regal Ambition was assigned barrier 11 in the field of 13 on Tuesday. While Dee would prefer a better start, his priority is ensuring the filly gets the right run, noting her tendency to be slow away.
“The query is that she’s been slow away from the barriers at the jumpouts and her first two starts (this time in),” he said. “If we get the right run, she should be right thereabouts.”
Other leading contenders drawing wide included Over The Bridge. De Armas, a Flight Stakes placegetter, drew nine, while Saintly Dancer and Pretty Baby drew gates four and five respectively, potentially enhancing their prospects.
Consider the available racing betting markets for the Thousand Guineas on your preferred online bookmakers.
