Guineas unlikely for Innovation Girl
AAP Racing & Sports 01/02/03

Trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith is shying away from a Cadbury Guineas start for outstanding filly Innovation Girl who led throughout to comfortably win Saturday's Group Three $200,000 The Debonair (1420m) at Flemington.

Mayfield-Smith was concerned with the way the filly over-raced today and a repeat would make it hard for her to get the 1600m of the Group One $750,000 Cadbury Guineas at Flemington on February 15.

The Guineas has slipped back a bit the way she raced today," Mayfield-Smith said.

"She'd race too hard over the 1600 metres but there are other options for her including the Swettenham Stud Stakes.

"She'll win a Group One (race) one day when everything falls into place for her."

Sent out favourite at 5-4, Innovation Girl held out Delago Brom, who came from last, by three-quarters of a length, with Tycoon Ruler, who sat second off the leader, a half-length away third.

The big disappointment of the race was the Bob Thomsen-trained Thorn Park, the clear second favourite at 2-1.

He died on his run to finish sixth after getting back to second last early un the race.

Jockey Darren Beadman was not disappointed with Thorn Park from a Cadbury Guineas perspective, the race which is his aim in Melbourne.

"He had to make up a lot of ground in an evenly-run race and it was three weeks between runs," Beadman said.

"His run came to an end but he'll improve on that."

Winning jockey Nash Rawiller said Innovation Girl was pretty relaxed the first 100 metres until Blur raced up to her on her inside.

"I thought I'd be able to put her to sleep but when she saw daylight she got trucking," said Rawiller who had to make a big effort to ride the filly at 54kg.

"She's high class," the jockey added.

The Group Two $250,000 Swettenham Stud Stakes (1200m) for fillies and mares, is run at Morphettville on February 15.

Trainer Tommy Hughes Snr was delighted with the effort of Delago Brom who seems well on track for the Cadbury Guineas, while the John Hawkes-trained Jeremiad failed to measure up on the day, finishing only eighth of the 10 runners.