โSheโs naturally matured a little bit and sheโs had a similar prep in,โ Maher said.
โI think she enjoys that 1000m trial. She travelled well and quickened up, and has come through it well.
โI feel she has furnished a bit, as you would imagine a three-year-old filly would.
โSheโll go to the Surround Stakes and then itโs whether she goes to the TJ Smith. Itโs a similar prep to last time, 1400 back to 1200 went very well.โ
Schofield, Maher and Godolphin also combine with Threads ($14) in the listed Lonhro Plate (1000m) for two-year-olds. The Snitzel colt debuts from gate two off two trials with Schofield aboard. He closed off well for second in his most recent hit-out.
โI really like this colt,โ Schofield said.
โThe trial at Kembla was very nice, but a quiet one, and then I let him do a bit more the other day at Warwick Farm, and he was very good over the concluding stages under pressure, so heโs an exciting colt.
โI loved the way he jumped and put himself on the pace. The draw is an asset.โ
Maher said Godolphin had earmarked Threads as one of its most promising two-year-olds heading into this season.
โHeโs always shown ability,โ he said.
โHeโs from a family that take a little bit of time, but I think heโll benefit off the back of his trial.โ
Maher also has the favourite in the Lonhro Plate, Spicy Miss ($2.80), which was second in the Golden Gift at her only start. Zac Lloyd rides her first-up from gate three.
โShe was Magic Millions [eligible], but we just thought it was better to give her a break and she would benefit skipping that for these better races,โ Maher said.
โSheโs changed quite a bit. Sheโs strengthened up, and sheโll improve a bit out of Saturday, but sheโs in good order.โ
Schofield is the only jockey to win the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) twice, and he links with John Thompsonโs Screen Icon ($17) this year. They just fell short of catching Shiki in the Gimcrack Stakes and faces another tough task from a wide gate.
โSheโs a very nice filly and she was unlucky not to win the Gimcrack,โ Schofield said.
โShe drew really wide and had a tough run, but she just kept finding the line and only just missed.
โJohn tipped her straight out and sheโs strengthened up nicely since last prep. I loved her two trials. Weโve been given no favours with the barrier, but hopefully she can give me my third Millennium.โ
Maher will likely have three runners in the rich two-year-old race, headlined by Inglis Banner winner Calamari Ring ($7.50). Long Throw ($16), an impressive second on debut at Rosehill, and Ghanaโs Akan ($23), coming off two top-four runs in Victoria, are the others.
โItโs probably got that bit of X-factor, but itโs obviously got that wide gate to deal with,โ Maher said of Calamari Ring.
โLong Throw was very good on debut. She quickened up nice and she should only improve. Ghanaโs Akan, itโs run very well both times.โ
