Trainer Reece Goodwin sets sights on the Group 1 Thousand Guineas with $50k purchase Lovelycut

Trainer Reece Goodwin could be entering the most important stage of his career as he prepares $50,000 purchase Lovelycut towards a potential Group 1 preparation this spring carnival.

Jockey-turned-trainer Reece Goodwin admits he’s feeling both nervous and excited ahead of an upcoming spring campaign with a filly that could take him to Group 1 heights.

Lovelycut, a $50,000 purchase for Goodwin, announced herself as a genuine carnival prospect last month with an impressive win at Sandown that took her record to two wins from three starts.

The Pakenham-based conditioner says he’s never had a horse of Lovelycut’s ability and admits with that comes pressure, but hopes she can put her name up in lights at the back end of the spring.

“I’ve had nothing close to her in terms of ability and that brings excitement in the lead up to a big carnival.” Goodwin said.

“We knew there was something there but it was hard to get a gauge on how good she is.

“That’s because for one, I’ve never had anything like her and two, I don’t have anything that would work as good as her, or go with her.

“But she’s already paying for herself so that takes a bit of the pressure off but I handle that stuff pretty good anyway.

“Ultimately you just want to get the result throughout the spring, whether that be a major race or not, I just want to place her right.”

Lovelycut ridden by Damian Lane winning at Sandown Lakeside impressively Picture: Pat Scala - Racing Photos

Following that last start win at Sandown, Goodwin sent her straight to jockey Teo Nugent and his partner, Claira Chermside, at their spelling farm (Nuside Park) where he’s now set his sights on a Group 1 Thousand Guineas raid.

The three-year-old feature over the mile for the fillies is now run at the back end of the spring carnival, giving Goodwin plenty of time to get Lovelycut ready to peak on grand final day.

“It certainly helps me that it’s now in November because she only ran two weeks ago so we can give her a short break, bring her right back and be ready to fire later on in the spring,” Goodwin said.

“At this stage we’ve got three runs mapped out to get to a Thousand Guineas.

“She will probably run in the Gothic Stakles at Caulfield and that is two weeks into the Vanity, if she goes really well, which is a Group 2 during Cup week.

“Or there’s a Listed race at Flemington, also on Cup week, over 1400 metres.

“That would set her up for the Thousand Guineas if we thought a mile was up her alley or if she’s good enough.”

Bookmakers currently rate the daughter of Ilovethiscity as a $15 chance in futures betting for the Thousand Guineas, where Hayasugi and Manaal sit at the top of the market as $6 equal favourites.

Originally published as Trainer Reece Goodwin sets sights on the Group 1 Thousand Guineas with $50k purchase Lovelycut