The right form line for The Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) was the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) and that proved true.
But not in the way many would’ve predicted as $31 chance Another Prophet reversed the three-length margin over $3.20 favourite Aeliana from Flemington.
Ridden by Ethan Brown, Another Prophet was afforded the perfect run just behind the pace with cover, presenting strongly in the straight to deliver trainer Ciaron Maher his first Thousand Guineas, holding off a fast-finishing Aeliana by a long neck, with leader Too Darn Lizzie ($26) sticking on gamely for a narrow third.
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“We thought there was a little bit of improvement in her coming out of her last run and she actually ran a peak last start so that gave us the confidence going forward. It was obviously a bit of a roll at the stumps but that was the science behind it,” Maher said.
“She’d thrived (since Flemington) and as I said to (Ethan) Brownie going out ‘well, I think we can win this.’
“(I was confident) the whole way. I was actually just watching Brownie and wanting her to drop her head after the first furlong or so. Once I saw her nose drop, I thought ‘gee, we’re in business here’.
“Just fantastic, Brownie. He’s a good mate, we’ve had some great wins together and hopefully there’s plenty more in store.”
Brown notched up his fifth career Group 1 win, with four of those five now coming for Ciaron Maher, and the twenty-five-year-old hoop said everything went to plan.
“Lobbed in a beautiful spot. She was a bit keen early, I was a bit worried about that, but as Ciaron said once she dropped her head she travelled sweet and built into it beautifully and showed her true colours today,” Brown said.
“A bit of cover was essential so I have to contain her early and once we got that first half right, it was easy from then.”
Brown is enjoying a successful Spring having also ridden Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) winner Mornington Glory in September and said he’s glad the results are starting to flow.
“It is always your goal to ride a Group 1 winner — let alone a couple — throughout the spring. It was a rocky road, it wasn’t easy, but I’ve had some great people around me,” Brown said.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I’ve only ridden five (G1s) and they still all feel like my first. I’ve got a long way to catch J-Mac.”
Kimochi wins Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
Gary Portelli has not been afraid to cross borders multiple times this preparation with Kimochi and that confidence has been rewarded with a win at the highest level with a galloper who is now an extra valuable mare for Yulong.
Kimochi’s victory in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) bookended her preparation with victories after winning first-up at Randwick in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) in late August, then a run in Melbourne, then back to Sydney before two more runs in Melbourne.
“There was a bit of pressure on us, Yulong have been on fire with their famous colours in the last few weeks,” Portelli said.
“I was able to win first-up with her and she’d just hit a couple of little flat spots since. Back to the 1400m, no weight on her back, champion ride. It was a brilliant ride from barrier 13 to get one off.
“They paid $2.2 million for her at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, and we’ve been able to win a Group. She’s worth probably three times that now.”
Craig Williams rode the daughter of Japanese sire Brave Smash for the first time since they ran second in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) on this day last year, the top jockey steered her to win from the awkward draw.
“From the first half of the race, I just worried about riding her, not worried about positioning, and I thought if I get that first part right with her, I’ll have a really good horse at the end,” Williams said.
“At the top of the straight, she was just marking time and then all of a sudden she just really showed her tenacity and to run down a horse like Another Wil was great.”
Kimochi ($26) scored over Another Wil ($2.70) by a long-neck margin with a steadily improving Steparty ($31) 1½-lengths away in third.
“Can’t ask for much more, just the drying track probably pulled him up a little bit the last hundred (metres) but he’ll win one soon,” Jamie Kah said of Another Wil’s effort.
Another Wil’s stablemate Jimmysstar ($3.20) finished six-lengths from the winner in tenth with excuses in the run.
“Disastrous,” Damian Lane said.
“(He was) held up for clear running on straightening and went to the line under canter.”
Kimochi provided Portelli with his ninth career win at Group 1 level.