Gregers shows her class

Kayla Nisbet wins aboard smart filly Gregers at Moonee Valley.

David Hayes began listing the positives surrounding the filly Gregers well before she hit the line in the 1000-metre second race at Moonee Valley.

And he was still at it long after the three-year-old galloped past the post well clear of some well-credentialled rivals on Saturday. ”We’ll just cruise along toward the Thousand Guineas now,” Hayes said.

Gregers had shown class in her autumn preparation, winning at Moonee Valley and then finishing fourth in the Blue Diamond when she was shinsore.

In her seasonal debut on Saturday she proved the form, and her status as Hayes’ leading three-year-old filly, scoring by 4¼ lengths. ”We always had an opinion of her, but now we know how good she is,” the trainer said.

Hayes will consider the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on August 31 for Gregers’ next run, but is in no hurry to finalise plans. ”There’s no rush, we’re ahead of schedule and we’ve got some options,” he said.

Gregers ($3.70) was always in touch with the leaders and hooked out at the 250m, surging clear to put the result beyond doubt in a couple of strides.

Metastasio, the $1.95 favourite, did a reasonable job to finish second after missing the start, a length clear of Jennyfromtheblock ($13).

David Hayes could barely contain his excitement after three-year-old filly Gregers won as he has one race in mind with her this spring – the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in October.

“That was a bit special. What I liked was she did a lot wrong and still exploded away from them,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have a better one for the Thousand Guineas at the moment. I think she’s a bit special,” he said.

And he could find plenty of reasons to suggest Gregers is a Thousand Guineas filly.

Straight after the 1000m win he likened her to last year’s Thousand Guineas winner Commanding Jewel.

“Commanding Jewel won the same race last year and went on to win the Thousand Guineas and this filly is that type of horse,” Hayes said.

Then Hayes compared her to his 2009 Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights.

“She’s a similar style of filly to Irish Lights,” Hayes said.

Hayes said the ease of Greger’s win yesterday surprised him as she still had a lot of improvement to come.

“I’m in no hurry with her. She’s a long way ahead after that of we’re we need to be,” he said.

“I’ll see how she eats up. It could be a month but it could be sooner.”

Hayes said it could be the McNeil Stakes or he could run her over 1100m at Flemington in early September in the same race Irish Lights won.

Hayes said he hadn’t made any plans as to when Greger’s would have her next start.

Gregers was having her first start since she finished fourth in the Blue Diamiond Stakes which was only her second start.

Hayes said her effort in that race underlined her ability.

“She had barrier 19 and had to work hard and she pulled up shin-sore” he said.

Gregers, ridden by Kayla Nesbet, sat off the fast speed set by Maroon Bay and Mestastasio and rounded them up before the turn.

Gregers ($3.70) defeated Metastasio ($1.95) by four and a quarter lengths with Jennyfromtheblock ($13) a length away third.

“I thought she’d run well but the ease of the win took me by surprise,” he said.

Category: Racing