2019 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas Day Preview

Another fresh field of juveniles will step out for the first on Caulfield Guineas Day and not a single runner harbours exposed form. At publish, the Mick Price & Mick Kent Jnr-trained Rock Of Kryptonite is the $4.80 favourite in betting. Rock Of Kryptonite is by Fastnet Rock, out of Kryptelon.

These early season two-year-old races are not for me and I am happy to watch.

No Bet

Rox The Castle has been a model of consistency this time and looks well placed to return to winning form at Listed level. The Castledale gelding recorded consecutive wins, including the Listed Tontonan Stakes at Flemington two back, before placing behind the smart Admiral’s Joker here a fortnight ago. He’s rock-hard fit and will enjoy a 2kgs drop in the weights from his last appearance.

2 Units Rox The Castle

Living Gabby returned to the races with a stunning performance to beat the fit Exhilarates at The Valley a fortnight ago and will only improve into this race on Caulfield Guineas Day. The I Am Invincible filly has boasted good ability throughout her short racing career so far, but she appears to have returned to the races a far more furnished prospect this time, and this looks another terrific target for her.

4 Units Loving Gabby

Meryl mustered an impressive performance to finish sixth at long odds in the Group 1 Moir Stakes last time out and will relish what is a big drop in class at Caulfield on Saturday. The Epaulette mare was a strong and consistent performer last time in and has continued to improve with each effort of a decent spell this time. Dean Yendall has options in transit from barrier 2 and the horse is up to winning at a price.

1.5 Units E/W Meryl

A genuine Melbourne Cup contender always comes out of this race and we are set for another quality edition of the Ladbrokes Herbert Power.

Prince Of Arran was simply outstanding last spring and he looks well placed to record a win on his Australian return. The Charlie Fellowes-trained gelding ran a bolter for third in this race first-up last year but remained somewhat under the radar after the contest given Yucatan’s enormous win. He subsequently won the Group 3 Hotham and placed third in the Melbourne Cup. The $8 on offer at publish could prove to be over the odds.

2 Units E/W Prince Of Arran

Flit has stripped fitter for two starts this time and looks as though she’ll be perfectly suited to the mile in the Thousand Guineas. The daughter of Medaglia D’oro has recorded one win and three minors through only five career starts and is drawn ideally, with Hugh Bowman engaged to ride.

Group 1 winner Lyre is another horse that will take improvement into her fourth campaign assignment and is up to winning at an each-way price ($7.50 at publish). The Lonhro filly has form around some good horses this time and is drawn to receive the run of the race.

2 Units Flit

1 Unit E/W Lyre

The Ladbrokes Stakes is looming as the race of the day, perhaps even the carnival so far at Caulfield on Saturday and there is a case to be made for nearly every horse.

Avilius strode back into the winner’s stall when he made like work of a talented field in the Group 1 George Main last time out and will only be better fourth-up and out to 2000m. The Pivotal gelding has been a standout for the in-form Godolphin stable for more than a year and I can’t find a reason why he can’t win again.

Dream Castle will have his first Australian run in this race and looks a touch of overs at a double-figure price. The Frankel gelding won each of his first three starts when resuming last time, including the Group 1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan. His fresh record is strong, and 2018 Caulfield Cup winner Patrick Cosgrave has travelled out to ride him.

3 Units Avilius

1 Unit E/W Dream Castle

Queensland raider Alligator Blood puts an unbeaten record on the line in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas and looks capable of winning again. Granted, the All Too Hard gelding has often stepped out in substantially weaker company than he finds here but produced a big effort to win the Prelude a fortnight ago and is at peak fitness for this race. Ryan Maloney retains the ride and getting out to a mile does looks ideal for the horse.

2 Units Alligator Blood

The Toorak Handicap is generally a wide-open contest and that is certainly the case with $7 the field on offer at publish.

Fierce Impact will enjoy good improvement into this race second-up and looks a winning chance at around the $10 mark. The Deep Impact entire has continued to improve with every preparation since arriving in Australia, and just missed beating Kolding in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie when resuming this time. With that horse having gone on to win the Epsom, I’m confident the form will stack up in this race.

2 Units E/W Fierce Impact

Trekking will contest the Schillaci Stakes second-up on Saturday and looks well placed to send us home a winner. The Street Cry gelding returned to the races in career-best form last time in; winning three of his five starts including the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. I think that he’s about at his right price ($2.70) but wouldn’t want him a lot short.

2 Units Trekking