It is anniversary day for classy filly Marveen and trainer Robert Smerdon is hoping it will prove to be a winning omen for her in Saturday's Group Two Sandown Guineas.At the same meeting a year ago Marveen was having just her third race start when she posted her first win in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) which this year, as the Rocking Horse Stakes, is the mission for her stablemate I'm A Smarty Pants.Marveen has now won three of her 10 starts and Smerdon said she deserved a crack at t
It is anniversary day for classy filly Marveen and trainer Robert Smerdon is hoping it will prove to be a winning omen for her in Saturday's Group Two Sandown Guineas.
At the same meeting a year ago Marveen was having just her third race start when she posted her first win in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) which this year, as the Rocking Horse Stakes, is the mission for her stablemate I'm A Smarty Pants.
Marveen has now won three of her 10 starts and Smerdon said she deserved a crack at the colts and geldings in the Guineas after her Melbourne Cup day victory in the Listed The Lexus (1400m) at Flemington.
"We thought it was crucial she drew a barrier in the Guineas to get the mile (1600m) and she's drawn three so we are happy," Smerdon said.
"From a very good draw you would think she would have an easy run for a long way."
Smerdon made wholesale changes to Marveen's gear two starts ago at Moonee Valley, replacing blinkers with winkers and adding a tongue tie and cross-over nose band.
While she could only finish fourth to Millbank in the Group Three Wonderful World Stakes (1200m) she benefited from the gear over the extra 200 metres at Flemington.
Smerdon said the winkers would also come off to help Marveen relax more in Saturday's longer race.
Luke Nolen, who won the Merson Cooper on the filly and partnered her at Moonee Valley two starts ago, replaces the suspended Corey Brown who rode her last start.
Marveen and Dubai Miss are the only fillies among the 11 runners in the Sandown Guineas.
Since 1970 only eight fillies have won the feature, the most recent Cayambe in 2005.
Others were Dextrous (2002), Moon Dragon (2001), Blixen (1988), Shankhill Lass (1985), Polar Air (1980), Snowing (1979) and Better Draw in 1975.
Smerdon trains Marveen for Aquanita chairman Peter Howell who bred the daughter of Orientate and races her with his family.
He is also the managing owner of I'm A Smarty Pants who will race in blinkers after her encouraging race debut second to the highly-impressive Rostova in the Listed Schiavello Stakes (1000m) Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
"Being the first time down the straight she was a bit green and lost the plot mid-race but we are hoping blinkers will make her a bit more focused," Smerdon said.
He said that mentally I'm A Smarty Pants would be better prepared on Saturday although he would have preferred her to have drawn better than barrier 12.
"It makes it a little bit tougher," Smerdon said.
Nolen will have his first ride on I'm A Smarty Pants as he tries to win the two-year-old feature race for the second year in a row for the stable.