‘She’s A Wonder will dominate’

Dalton Serjue, assistant trainer of SHE'S A WONDER, the ante-post favourite for Saturday's 1000 Guineas, says he is expecting another dominant performance from the three-year-old filly in this weekend's first Classic race of the season.

SHE'S A WONDER, who will be partnered by her customary jockey Ryan Lewis, has been drawn in gate 14 for the highly anticipated 1600 metres race.

The talented filly is coming off impressive victories in the Thornbird States and Portmore Cup prep races. In fact, SHE'S A WONDER won the Portmore Cup, which was more than 1500 metres in an impressive time 1:33.4. She led from start to finish and held on to win by three-quarters of a length while allowing weight to her rivals, including SENSATIONAL ENDING who was second.

The talented filly will be venturing over the Guineas distance for the first time in her career, but, according to Serjue, she should have no problems in getting the journey on Saturday.

"She has gone through her preparations well and she is doing what we expected of her and so come race day, we are expecting a good showing from her," said Serjue.

"In the Portmore Cup, she went 1500 metres and was giving weight to everybody (including 5kg to runner-up SENSATIONAL LANDING). They were closing in on her but she did not get to prepare properly for that race because she had an accident the Sunday morning (six days before) and so all things taken in consideration, we are looking forward to an impressive performance," he said.

Level play field

Serjue underscored that Saturday's race will be a level play field because all the horses in the race will be carrying 57kg.

"The journey should not be a problem because in this race everybody will be sitting level at the weights. She was giving away 10, nine, eight, five and seven pounds to a lot of the horses in Portmore," he said. SHE'S A WONDER has been working extremely well. On May 23 the filly galloped 1:26.4 alongside her top-rated stablemate Mahogany.

Meanwhile, in the 14-horse field for Saturday SENSATIONAL ENDING, who will be partnered by Anthony Thomas, will run from gate nine and the highly fancied SECRET IDENTITY with Dane Nelson aboard is drawn in gate five.

SWEET MAJESTY will be ridden by Christopher Mamdeen (gate one), JAHSENDBLESSINGS with Aaron Chatrie (gate two), IANZAH LINKS and Dick Cardenas (gate three), HEAVENLY GLITTER with Dane Dawkins abroad (gate four), SURE CURLIN with Robert Halledeen in the saddle (gate six), SILVER HAWK with Phillip Parchment in the irons (gate seven), AMY THE BUTCHER will be ridden by Shane Ellis (gate eight), HOIST THE MAST with Omar Walker aboard (gate 10), ALEXA'S DREAM and Christopher Mamdeen (gate 11) and AWESOME CHOICE with Tevin Foster aboard (gate 13).

In the meantime, FURTHER AND BEYOND to be ridden by Dane Nelson and MINIATURE MAN with Dick Cardenas in the saddle, will renew their rivals in the 2000 Guineas on Saturday. Both horses ended in a dead heat in the Kingston Cup on May 8.