Ascot horseman Simon Miller has his undefeated Perth filly Whispering Brook entered for her interstate debut this Saturday with the three-time Group winner to accept for Moonee Valley’s 2016 Atlantic Jewel Stakes.
Chris Parnham will ride Perth-based filly Whispering Brook for her Eastern state debut in Melbourne’s Atlantic Jewel Stakes on the weekend. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell.
Miller has the beautifully-bred daughter of Hinchinbrook heading towards a run in the $500,000 Group 1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield Racecourse on October 8.
Her Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival raid begins this weekend at the Valley where she’ll be out to retain her unbeaten status in the $120,000 Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m).
Under the set weights plus penalties conditions of the race Whispering Brook will carry the 58.5kg top weight as she faces a field of fellow new-season three-year-old fillies.
She has raced five times to date for five wins all in Western Australia and was last seen taking out the Group 3 W.A. Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
That followed a host of other autumn Black-Type victories including the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) in March and the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) in early April.
She is yet to carry more than 56.5kg to victory however, so how she handles the Melbourne line-up with the big kilos is key to her chances.
Miller trialled Whispering Brook officially at Pinjarra on August 8 over 1000m, a hit-out she won on way to her first Victorian assignment.
The filly, who will be ridden by Chris Parnham in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes, touched down in Melbourne on Tuesday after a final hit-out at home in Perth on Monday Miller told Racenet.
“She had her final gallop here on Monday and then I put her on a plane last night and she flew over overnight,” he said yesterday.
“I’ve been able to keep her in her own environment for as long as I can.
“It’s a good thing and I’m really happy with her.
“She had a good gallop, flew over there and settled in well and ate up when she got there this morning.”
All indications were for the filly to enjoy the tight Moonee Valley circuit and Miller said a soft track would also work to her advantage on the weekend.
“She trialled on a slow or soft track this time in and she got through but trials to race days is different pressure,” he said.
“She looks like she’s the right one to bring across but it’s like any horse from WA.
“You don’t know if they’re the right one until they strut their stuff because it’s hard to weigh up without the formlines to cross reference.
“The Valley is another unknown but good horses generally handle the Valley.”
Miller said she could even extend out further than the Thousand Guineas mile this season in a race like the $300,000 Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Derby Day during the Cup Carnival.
“The Thousand Guineas is her main mission,” he said.
“From this run Saturday, she’ll go to the [Thousand] Guineas Prelude over the 1400m at Caulfield [on September 24], which will be ideal.
“I’m looking forward to the mile because I reckon she’ll get that and from there, I don’t know where we’ll head. Possibly the Wakeful or something else.”
As for the 2016 Thousand Guineas, betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Caulfield Guineas Day classic have Whispering Brook currently listed as a $17 chance.
The other standout Atlantic Jewel Stakes hope this weekend on Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes Day is the Shane Nichols-trained I Am A Star.
Prepared at Mornington, the daughter of I Am Invincible has won her past three on the trot including a first-up triumph at Caulfield in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) in mid-August from a wide alley (13 of 13).
I Am A Star is also on the Thousand Guineas path and is an equal early $17 shot with Whispering Brook, prices sure to change after Saturday’s Atlantic Jewel Stakes results.
To back your favourite fillies this Saturday and in the Thousand Guineas this spring make sure you’ve got an open and ready to go online at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).
