Beyond impressive in recording victory in the G1 Flight S. (1600m) at her most recent start, Godolphin's Alizee (Aus) (Sepoy {Aus}) needs to overcome the hoodoo that many suffer when making their Caulfield debut if she is to record back-to- back Group 1 victories when she steps out in Saturday's G1 Thousand Guineas (1600m). The only filly travelling down from New South Wales for the race, Alizee's jockey Glyn Schofield has stuck with the well-bred filly, a half-sister to G1 Golden Rose S. winner and first-season covering sire Astern (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro).
Beaten for the first time in her five-run career at her most recent effort when charging late over 1400m to take second, Shoals (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) races as if she will relish the trip and with Caulfield form on the board, the Anthony Freedman-trained filly is the main danger to the favourite.
Jumping from her second to Houtzen (Aus) over 1200m in the G3 Scarborough S. to the mile on Saturday, Tony McEvoy's Mintha (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) is yet to break her maiden, but is racing like she needs ground, and she will get that in the Guineas.
With two runners backing up from encouraging performances last Saturday's G2 Edward Manifold S. over 1600m, the one to watch here is Pure Scot (Aus) (Purrealist {Aus}) an unlucky fourth behind Bring Me Roses (Aus).
Suspect at getting a strong mile, Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra's Booker (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) did take out the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) last time out, but runner-up Shoals was the one from the race to follow with the distance rise.
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