Australia: Barb Raider on a roll entering Thousand Guineas at Caulfield

The Australian filly Barb Raider has developed rapidly in the last two months.

Barb Raider lost her first two starts, both in August, before recording two impressive wins in September. She is among the leading candidates for Wednesday’s Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne.

Trained by Jerome Hunter, Barb Raider will have her stakes debut in a field of 13 in the $735,200 Thousand Guineas and will be ridden by Craig Williams, who has been aboard for all four of the filly’s races. Williams has been in fine form of late, winning with 11 of 50 mounts from Sept. 11 through Sunday, including a four-win day at Flemington on Sept. 22.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Barb Raider stalked the early pace and won an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on that Sept. 22 program. For the Thousand Guineas, Barb Raider has drawn post 3, which should allow for a tactical trip. Barb Raider was the 9-2 third choice in early betting on Monday.

Hinged, trained by Chris Waller, will be a slight favorite in the Thousand Guineas over the rapidly improving Zouzarella.

Hinged was second by a neck at 19-1 in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at a mile for 3-year-old fillies at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Oct. 2. Hinged closed from ninth of 14 to finish about a neck behind Never Been Kissed, who made a rapid return to action to finish second against males in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Randwick last Saturday.

Zouzarella, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, has won 2 of 3 starts. She won a six-furlong allowance race in her debut on Aug. 21 at Moonee Valley, and the Atlantic Jewel Stakes at six furlongs at Moonee Valley on Sept. 4 before finishing second by a length at 6-5 in the Jim Moloney Stakes at seven furlongs at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Sept. 25.

In those races, Zouzarella closed from well off the pace, suggesting that this longer trip should be within her ability. Brett Prebble, who was aboard for Zouzarella’s first three races, has the mount.

The Thousand Guineas is the seventh race on an eight-race program that begins at 10:25 p.m., Eastern, or 7:25 p.m., Pacific, on Tuesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.