Another Prophet surprises favourite Aeliana in Thousand Guineas rematch at Caulfield

Another Prophet was no match for Aeliana last start but held off a late surge from the favourite to cause a boilover in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.

Another Prophet had a beautiful run to win the Group 1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Another Prophet turned the tables on Aeliana in a Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) boil over at Caulfield on Saturday.

Jockey Ethan Brown rated the winner, trained by Ciaron Maher, wonderfully behind the speed and snuck a margin to get the result.

Aeliana, who won the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington a fortnight ago by three lengths from Another Prophet, rallied late but ultimately finished a neck short.

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“Lobbed in a beautiful spot,” Brown said.

“She was a bit keen early, I was a bit worried about that, but as Ciaron said once she dropped her head she travelled sweet and built into it beautifully and showed her true colours today.

“A bit of cover was essential so I have to contain her early and once we got that first half right, it was easy from then.”

Another Prophet returned $31 with Ladbrokes.

Leader and dictator Too Darn Lizzie gripped on gallantly for third in a blanket finish from Matisse and Benagil, both luckless in their own right.

ANOTHER PROPHET wins the Group 1 Thousand Guineas! 🔥@[e-mail]/RT4kYcnayy

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) November 16, 2024

• What the jockeys said: 2024 Thousand Guineas

Matisse, cruelled by barrier 13, settled last and tried valiantly to loop the field.

Benagil was held up at the top of the straight and switched back towards the rail.

Aeliana hit a flat spot around the tricky Caulfield home bend - not the first or last Sydney horse to crab around the turn - and struck minor interference, squeezed between Dominetta and Matisse on straightening.

Once balanced up the Chris Waller-trained mare launched under James McDonald.

“Race panned out perfectly for us but, unfortunately, like she did at Flemington she hit that flat spot and then here she never got through it,” McDonald said.

“She let herself down that way. Had she balanced up better earlier she would have won.”

Brown took luck out of the equation on Another Prophet, who has improved with every start going into the Thousand Guineas.

“At the start she was leading up half-mile trials and doing it upside down so it was a matter of teaching her,” Brown said.

Ciaron Maher and Ethan Brown celebrate Another Prophet’s win in the Thousand Guineas. Picture: Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images

“She was a bit wound up at Moonee Valley (second-up) and I think that is when we started thinking about her stretching to a mile.

“She’s always had good ability and certainly with the right trainer … she’s just progressed and what gave me more confidence was when we got in the yard and Ciaron said tucked up again since last start.

“Cantered to the gates and it felt on.”

Maher echoed Brown.

“We knew she was on the right trajectory,” Maher said.

“We thought there was a little bit of improvement in her coming out of her last run and she actually ran a peak last start so that gave us the confidence going forward. It was obviously a bit of a roll at the stumps but that was the science behind it.

“She’d thrived and as I said to Brownie going out ‘well, I think we can win this’.

“He rode her so confidently, it was a very comfortable watch.”

Maher praised Brown after his fourth Group 1 for the stable.

“He’s a good mate, we’ve had some great wins together and hopefully there’s plenty more in store,” Maher said.

Originally published as Another Prophet surprises favourite Aeliana in Thousand Guineas rematch at Caulfield