Paul Snowden’s eyes will be darting when the starter releases the field in Wednesday’s $1 million Thousand Guineas, but he is satisfied with where his three-pronged team has drawn in the 1600-metre Group 1.
Russian Revolution fillies Russian Conquest and Revolutionary Miss drew barriers one and 10 in the field of 11 with stablemate Tajneed to start from gate eight.
Snowden, who trains in partnership with his father Peter, was particularly pleased to see Russian Conquest draw better than her most recent outing, in the Jim Moloney Stakes (1400m), when she flashed home from near last to be narrowly beaten in a five-way photo finish.
“We had to go back a long way at Sandown, we didn’t want to go that far back, but we were dictated to by the barrier (12),” Snowden said of this year’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic runner-up.
“You saw how much ground she made up in the straight, so I dare say the barrier beat her, and it’s very pleasing to draw one.”
Blue Diamond runner-up Revolutionary Miss, who finished a 2-3/4-length seventh in the Jim Moloney, lacks the versatility to make use of an inside draw according to Snowden, while Tajneed’s starting position presents her jockey Damien Oliver with options.
“Revolutionary Miss gets back anyway, she’s got no tactical speed, so she’ll be midfield to second half of the field and Tajneed, she was in the top four (settling) at Flemington and she has got some tactical speed, so that’s not too bad for her.”
Russian Conquest and Revolutionary Miss have been among the better-performed of their age group since two-year-old days and the Guineas has always been on their spring itinerary, but Tajneed has exceeded expectations after a debut win at Sandown just four weeks before the Guineas.
“She’s still learning, she still does a few things wrong, but you couldn’t fault what’s she done this preparation,” Snowden said of the daughter of I Am Invincible, who finished third in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes.
“She was never going to compete at this level, it was about blooding her for the autumn.
“But we took the punt (in the Manifold), got the result and a Group 2 placing and this is a very even Guineas.”
Melbourne’s leading rider Jamie Kah will partner Russian Conquest in the Guineas with Mark Zahra to take the ride on Revolutionary Miss.
Favourite Boogie Dancer will start from the middle of the field after drawing gate six with second favourite She’s Licketysplit drawing to her immediate inside in five.