Ladbrokes Tip: The Caulfield Guineas Prelude – Caulfield Guineas double is a popular spring bet
The latest edition of the Caulfield Guineas Prelude ran on Saturday September 20, 2025 as part of Caulfield’s Underwood Stakes Day 2025 card and saw Chris Waller’s untapped Extreme Choice colt Estremo ($7) post a narrow but eye-catching win.
2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Results
The official Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2025 results & finishing order will be published below once the race is run and won on Saturday September 20, 2025.
- 1st: #7 Estremo
- 2nd: #1 Vega For Luck
- 3rd: #6 Planet Red
The $3 million Caulfield Guineas on October 11 is calling for the progressive Chris Waller trained colt Estremo ($7) after he fought hard late to run down Vega For Luck in an exciting 2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude result on Underwood Stakes Day.
2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Odds
The latest Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2025 betting odds and links to our Caulfield racing markets will be open below as soon as released so stay tuned for the top odds on the Caulfield Guineas-bound three-year-olds this spring.
| 7. Estremo (1) J: Ben Melham 56kg 3135T: Chris Waller | ||
| 1. Vega For Luck (4) J: Jamie Mott 56kg 79x26T: Matt Laurie | ||
| 6. Planet Red (2) J: Mark Zahra 56kg 1x14T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 3. Space Rider (7) J: Blake Shinn 56kg 14x17T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 5. Stay Cosmic (6) J: Jamie Melham 56kg 122x2T: Phillip Stokes | ||
| 8. Cinturato (5) J: Michael Dee 56kg 3T: Mark Walker | ||
| 4. Bingi (3) J: Zac Spain 56kg 131T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
Caulfield Guineas Prelude Tips
Good Caulfield Guineas Prelude tips to take to the bookies during the spring include looking for colts and geldings coming off a lead-up win in Melbourne, runners with ability over 1400m and those drawn near the rails at Caulfield.
Previous Group 1 performed youngsters at the track from the autumn out of races like the Blue Diamond Stakes also make a good tip in Caulfield Guineas Prelude betting each spring.
2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2025 betting tips and Group 3 racing picks for the Caulfield Guineas lead-up race will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the horses to lock-in for the win and to take in Group 1 futures markets on the mile feature next race.
To Win: #5 Stay Cosmic ($3.20 at time of publish)
With my original top pick BACASH (3) scratched, I’ve now shifted focus to STAY COSMIC (6), who’s firming in the market for what looks to be a wide-open edition of the Prelude. Phillip Stokes’ Cosmic Force gelding hasn’t saluted since his debut win at Cranbourne in March, but he’s been knocking on the door with three consecutive runner-up finishes, each by narrow margins.
Fresh at The Valley, he was beaten just half a length by Rosberg in the Listed McKenzie Stakes—a strong form line to carry into this tougher test. He was overlooked in betting that day but ran boldly and strips fitter now. The rise to 1400m looks ideal, especially after his effort two starts back at Flemington where he was beaten a neck in a Black-Type race over this trip.
In a small field, his late strength fresh suggests he’s ready to go one better.
|
5. Stay Cosmic (6)
J: Jamie Melham 56kg
122×2T: Phillip Stokes
|
Held on a weekend in mid to late September during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival at Caulfield Racecourse, the Caulfield Guineas Prelude is a Group 3 race open to three-year-old colts and geldings.
The set weights plus penalties race is one of three Group races at the meeting that is headlined by the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) which moved back to the card ahead of the 2025 edition. The other key event on the program is the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) offering a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption and is currently known as the MRC Foundation Cup.
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude is obviously the traditional preparatory run for fillies heading into the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) back at the track the following month. The last horse to complete the Caulfield Guineas Prelude – Caulfield Guineas double was Helmet (2011).
Caulfield Guineas Prelude Race Info
- Date: Saturday September 20, 2025
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Distance: 1400m
- Conditions: 3YO Colts & Geldings – Set Weights + Penalties
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $300,000
- First Run: 1985
Caulfield Guineas Prelude Betting
Caulfield Guineas Prelude odds are led each spring by in-form colts and geldings coming off good lead-up form in earlier races against similar class.
Last start winners sit high up the Caulfield Guineas Prelude betting markets with the likes of Alligator Blood (2019), Crosshaven (2020), Steparty (2023), and Angel Capital (2024) all coming off lead-up wins to take out the Group 3.
Horses that performed well in Flemington’s Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) also often get attention in betting on the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and Native Soldier (5th in 2018) was the last Prelude winner to come out of that race.
Aft Cabin ($2.15 in 2022) and Steparty ($2.60 in 2023) are the latest favourites in Caulfield Guineas Prelude betting to win.
Caulfield Guineas Prelude Field
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude race field attracts a line-up of the season’s most promising middle-distance horses heading towards a run over the mile in the Caulfield Guineas.
Youngsters in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude field can come off a number of possible runs including the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington, a double last completed by Crosshaven (2020).
Another lead-up race is the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes (1200m), a double last achieved by Native Soldier (2018).
In 2022 Aft Cabin improved on a second in the HDF McNeil Stakes to win the Prelude next start.
The likely next-up option for Caulfield Guineas Prelude graduates is the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
While the double hasn’t been completed since 2011, in recent times the 2020 Prelude winner Crosshaven ran a good fourth next-up in the Caulfield Guineas results. The year before, Alligator Blood missed out on a run in the Caulfield Guineas but franked the form with a win in the next autumn’s 2020 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
In 2023 the Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner, Steparty, was good next-up running third in the Caulfield Guineas trifecta.
2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Field
The official Caulfield Guineas 2025 Prelude Final Field & Barriers are released the Wednesday of race week and will be published below.
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2025 has drawn a diminutive but smart field of eight three-year-olds including the Phillip Stokes trained Stay Cosmic coming off a Listed McKenzie Stakes second at The Valley fresh.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Vega For Luck
J: Jamie Mott
T: Matt Laurie |
279x26 | C | 4 | 56kg | |
| 2. Bacash (3) Scratched: | |||||
|
3. Space Rider
J: Blake Shinn
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
14x17 | C | 7 | 56kg | |
|
4. Bingi
J: Zac Spain
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
131 | C | 3 | 56kg | |
|
5. Stay Cosmic
J: Jamie Melham
T: Phillip Stokes |
122x2 | R | 6 | 56kg | |
|
6. Planet Red
J: Mark Zahra
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
1x14 | G | 2 | 56kg | |
|
7. Estremo
J: Ben Melham
T: Chris Waller |
3135 | C | 1 | 56kg | |
|
8. Cinturato
J: Michael Dee
T: Mark Walker |
3 | G | 5 | 56kg | |
2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Nominations
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2025 Nominations are taken the Monday of race week and the list of early entries will be provided below once announced.
2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude nominations extended until 10:00AM (AEST) – 16/09/2025
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 131 | BINGI | C | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 69 |
| 2 | BON EROS | G | 3 | Clayton Douglas | ||
| 3 | 3135 | ESTREMO | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 65 |
| 4 | 3x60x42 | FERMOY | C | 3 | Chris Waller | |
| 5 | 24 | MATSUDA | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher | |
| 6 | 1×14 | PLANET RED | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 69 |
| 7 | 6x3976x1 | SIRIUSLY HOT | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 65 |
| 8 | 14×17 | SPACE RIDER | C | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 72 |
| 9 | 122×2 | STAY COSMIC | R | 3 | Phillip Stokes | 71 |
| 10 | 1335279×26 | VEGA FOR LUCK (NZ) | C | 3 | Matt Laurie | 67 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Caulfield Guineas Prelude Form Guide
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude form guide details to punters all the need-to-know information from trainers and jockeys to barriers and lead-up runs.
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude form has also stacked up in tougher spring races in recent years including in 2021 with the winner Lightsaber running fourth in that year’s Caulfield Guineas results and second the following autumn in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
The 2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude also produced the following year’s 2024 Australian Guineas winner with the Prelude runner-up Southport Tycoon returning in the autumn to post an elite level victory.
2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Form Guide
A link to our detailed Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2025 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Caulfield Guineas Prelude Results
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude race results have been dominated by single-figure chances in the past decade.
Notable recent Caulfield Guineas Prelude winners include Alligator Blood (2019), Sacred Elixir (2016), Epaulette (2012), Helmet (2011), Anacheeva (2010), Apache Cat (2005), Elvstroem (2003), Strategic (1995). and Unspoken Word (1990).
Helmet holds the current Caulfield Guineas Prelude race record winning over 1400m on a Firm (2) track in 2011 in 1 minute 21:40 seconds.
Past Caulfield Guineas Prelude Winners
Recent Caulfield Guineas Prelude winners, trainers, jockeys and times dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Estremo | Chris Waller | Ben Melham | 56 kgs | 1:24.52 |
| 2024 | Angel Capital | Clinton McDonald | Ben Melham | 57 kgs | 1:23.92 |
| 2023 | Steparty | Paul Preusker | John Allen | 57 kgs | 1:22.57 |
| 2022 | Aft Cabin | James Cummings | Jamie Kah | 56 kgs | 1:27.67 |
| 2021 | Lightsaber | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 58 kgs | 1:25.14 |
| 2020 | Crosshaven | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | Daniel Stackhouse | 56 kgs | 1:25.57 |
| 2019 | Alligator Blood | David Vandyke | Ryan Maloney | 55 kgs | 1:23.49 |
| 2018 | Native Soldier | Darren Weir | Ben Allen | 57 kgs | 1:23.36 |
| 2017 | Perast | Paul Perry | Damian Lane | 55 kgs | 1:23.47 |
| 2016 | Sacred Elixir | Tony Pike | Damian Lane | 57.5 kgs | 1:24.70 |
| 2015 | Bon Aurum | Ciaron Maher | Kerrin McEvoy | 56.5 kgs | 1:22.67 |
| 2014 | Rich Enuff | Ken Keys | Michael Rodd | 57.5 kgs | 1:23.49 |
| 2013 | Eclair Big Bang | Phillip Stokes | Dom Tourneur | 55 kgs | 1:23.38 |
| 2012 | Epaulette | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 58.5 kgs | 1:24.26 |
| 2011 | Helmet | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 58.5 kgs | 1:21.40 |
| 2010 | Anacheeva | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 55.5 kgs | 1:23.16 |
| 2009 | Demerit | Peter Snowden | Mark Zahra | 54 kgs | 1:24.70 |
| 2008 | Fernandina | Leon Corstens | Vlad Duric | 55.5 kgs | 1:25.42 |
| 2007 | Purrealist | Danny O’Brien | Hugh Bowman | 54 kgs | 1:24.20 |
| 2006 | Wonderful World | Bart Cummings | Luke Nolen | 54 kgs | 1:24.67 |
| 2005 | Apache Cat | Greg Eurell | Nick Ryan | 57.5 kgs | 1:27.08 |
| 2004 | Tirade | Mathew Ellerton | Danny Nikolic | 56 kgs | 1:24.78 |
| 2003 | Elvstroem | Tony Vasil | Brett Prebble | 54 kgs | 1:22.36 |
| 2002 | Great Glen | Leon Macdonald | Kerrin McEvoy | 57.5 kgs | 1:23.29 |
| 2001 | Pure Theatre | Robert Priscott | Darren Beadman | 54 kgs | 1:24.23 |
| 2000 | Fubu | Cliff Brown | Matthew Gatt | 54 kgs | 1:22.47 |
FAQ
Who won the 2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude?
The 2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude was won by three-year-old Extreme Choice colt Estremo at $7 for trainer Chris Waller with Ben Melham, who also rode last year’s winner, aboard on 56kg from barrier 1 to win by 0.06 lengths on a Good (3) track in a time of 1:24.52.
When is the Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2025?
Saturday September 20, 2025What is the prize money for the Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2025?
$300,000
Where is the Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2025?
Caulfield Racecourse, Gate 2, Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145.
How do I bet on the 2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.
Which horse will win the 2025 Caulfield Guineas Prelude?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Caulfield Guineas Prelude is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.