Australia: Boogie Dancer should have pace to chase in Thousand Guineas

Boogie Dancer has earned her way into the Group 1 Thousand Guineas for 3-year-old fillies at a mile at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Tuesday evening across American time zones.

Boogie Dancer won three consecutive starts in June and July to take a more prominent role in trainer Peter Moody’s stable. After the winning streak ended with a sixth-place finish in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes at six furlongs at Moonee Valley on Sept. 3, Boogie Dancer rebounded to win her group stakes debut in the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude at seven furlongs at Caulfield on Sept. 17.

Boogie Dancer, who tends to run from off the pace, will be ridden by her regular rider, Luke Nolen, and should have a pace to follow.

The $630,400 Thousand Guineas drew a field of 11. Boogie Dancer was the 4-1 second choice behind She’s Licketysplit at 7-2 in early betting on Monday.

She’s Licketysplit, a New Zealand-bred filly, was third in the Thousand Guineas Prelude in her Australian debut and rebounded to win for the fourth time in her sixth start in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile at Flemington Racecourse on Oct. 1.

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She’s Licketysplit closed from fourth to win the Manifold Stakes by three-quarters of a length. She was a Group 1 winner at six furlongs in New Zealand in March.

The Thousand Guineas is the second appearance in a Group 1 for North Star Lass who was third in the Group 1 Flight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Oct. 1. North Star Lass set the pace and was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Zougotcha, who has since been turned out.

North Star Lass could face early pressure in the Thousand Guineas from the Moody-trained Waltz On By, who won the listed Jim Moloney Stakes at seven furlongs at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Sept. 25 for her first stakes. Waltz On By will start a mile for the first time in the Thousand Guineas.

Caulfield has a nine-race program beginning at 10 p.m. Eastern, or 7 p.m. Pacific. Four of the races are group stakes, but the Thousand Guineas is the only Group 1. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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