Ciaron Maher's remarkable spring continued when Another Prophet proclaimed herself a top-class filly with victory in Caulfield Racecourse's Thousand Guineas (G1) Nov. 16, handing the trainer his first win in the race and a 50th group 1 success.
The daughter of Brazen Beau was denied by the Chris Waller-trained Aeliana last time in the Carbine Club Stakes (G3) at Flemington, but put that three-length defeat firmly behind her to reverse the form in Saturday's AU$1.5 million classic.
The AU$31 chance held off Waller's fast-finishing AU$3.20 favorite, crossing the line about a half-length ahead of Aeliana under Ethan Brown, who was riding his fifth group 1 winner and fourth for Maher. The Thousand Guineas Prelude (G2) winner Too Darn Lizzie posted a game effort, another 1 1/4 lengths adrift in third.
ANOTHER PROPHET surged mid stretch and held off Aeliana to win the $1,500,00 Thousand Guineas (G1) at Caulfield. @cmaherracing trained the filly by Brazen Beau (@DarleyAus), @Brown_ethan8 was in the irons.
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 16, 2024
Wager on the Late Pick 3: https://t.co/P85jVlpptu pic.twitter.com/cdGmaut7Wl
In what was the second win of the filly's seven-start career—her first since maiden victory at Sale in May—she became the 16th group winner and fourth group 1 winner this term for her stable, who achieved The Everest (G1) and Caulfield Cup (G1) across-the-card double courtesy of Bella Nipotina and Duke de Sessa Oct. 19. The trainer's other elite-level win this season came courtesy of Southport Tycoon's victory in the Manikato Stakes (G1) at Moonee Valley in September.
"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," said Maher. "It was obviously a bit of a roll at the stumps but that was the science behind it. She'd thrived (since Flemington) and as I said going out, 'I think we can win this.'
"(I was confident) the whole way. I was wanting her to drop her head after the first furlong or so. Once I saw her nose drop, I thought 'we're in business.'"
Brown said it all went to script.
"She's always had good ability and certainly with the right trainer," he said. "I think she's just progressed. She lobbed in a beautiful spot early, which I was a bit worried about. But as Ciaron said, once she dropped her head she traveled sweet and built into it beautifully and showed her true colors today."
Another Prophet is part-owned and co-bred by the Ferguson Family's Bell River Thoroughbreds and is out of their winning mare Set To Skelter, making her a half sister to group 2 scorer Prophet's Thumb and group 3 winner More Prophets.
Another Prophet's half sister by Bivouac was bought by James Bester for AU$250,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year. Set to Skelter produced a filly by Darley shuttler Harry Angel in September.
Captured By Love Superb in NZ Thousand Guineas
The emerging rivalry between exciting fillies Alabama Lass and Captured by Love swung back in the latter's favor when she produced an outstanding performance Nov. 16 in the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Riccarton.
The Matamata-trained stars clashed for the first time in the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (G2) on their home track in February, where Captured by Love beat Alabama Lass by 1 3/4 lengths.
That was the only defeat from the first five career starts for Alabama Lass, who went on to string together three blistering victories this spring including the Gold Trail Stakes (G3) at Hastings and last month's Soliloquy Stakes (G2) at Ellerslie. In the Gold Trail, the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained filly reversed the Matamata Breeders' Stakes result with a three-quarter-length defeat of Captured by Love.
The evenly matched pair headed to Riccarton Saturday with their score line square at one-all ahead of the prestigious NZ$550,000 classic. Alabama Lass was sent out as the AU$2.20 favorite with Captured by Love the second elect at AU$4.30, but it was the Te Akau Racing chestnut who took out the all-important group 1.
Visiting Australian jockey Josh Parr found a midfield position in sixth and one off the rail on Captured by Love, while Alabama Lass took up her expected front-running role and enjoyed some easy sectionals coming down the side of the track.
The field came out to the middle of the Riccarton strip at the home turn, searching for the better footing on the Soft7 surface. Parr opted to angle Captured by Love back closer the rail, quickly looming up on the inside of Alabama Lass at the 300-meter mark.
Alabama Lass saw her nemesis coming and lifted again in a brave front-running performance, but Captured by Love surged past her in the last 100 meters and went clear to win. Alabama Lass held second, with the lightly raced Movin' Out storming home from near last to finish third in only the third race of her career.
"It feels great to win a group 1 race in New Zealand," Parr said. "Two years ago I came to ride for Te Akau at this carnival, and this day didn't go well with the races being cancelled.
"Middle to three-quarters of the way out on the track is the place to be, but it opened up on the middle to inside, so I took the shortcut. We idled up alongside the favorite and she was the stronger filly.
"The Te Akau team has been great to me in the past and they're huge contributors both here and in Australia."
It's Group 1 glory for @joshuaparr8 as Captured By Love chases down Alabama Lass to win the New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton! 👏 @LOVERACINGNZ @TeAkauRacing pic.twitter.com/hiT4Xaw8FL
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 16, 2024
Captured by Love was bought for AU$525,000 by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis out of the Milburn Creek draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year. The Written Tycoon filly has now had 10 starts with five wins and five placings, earning AU$703,435 for the Te Akau 2023 Magic Fillies' Breeding Syndicate.
"That was a great win," said Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson. "Well done to our racing manager Reece Trumper for getting the services of Josh Parr.
"At the top of the straight it could have got ugly, but group 1 jockeys make group 1 decisions and Josh got a lovely run through on the inside.
Captured by Love became the seventh One Thousand Guineas winner for Te Akau.
