Australian Guineas Day is one of the autumn’s most highly anticipated programs, and we are set for an exciting day of racing at Flemington.
The rail will be set out 2 metres around the entire course and at publish, the track is rated in the Good (4) range.
Race 1 - 12:20pm AEDT
Listed Very Special Kids Plate (1000m)
To The Moon Alice was caught up at a vital moment at her debut and with better luck, she’ll be tough to beat down the straight on Saturday.
The daughter of Your Song got going again once clear, but the well backed winner was off and gone.
She’ll improve for that experience and will be ridden by Jamie Kah.
2 Units E/W To The Moon Alice
Race 2 - 12:55pm AEDT
Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m)
Stars Of Carrum has been building towards a race win since transferring to the care of Peter Moody, and he looks well placed to get it in the Roy Higgins Quality.
He has noticeably improved with each of his four starts back this time, including a credible second placing in the Torney Night Cup at The Valley a couple of weeks ago.
He looks to be at peak fitness and will relish a return to Flemington.
3 Units Stars Of Carrum
Race 3 - 1:30pm AEDT
Group 3 Shaftsbury Avenue Handicap (1400m)
This is an open edition of this race and a horse like Sansom has claims on winning, at a nice price ($9 at publish).
Sansom was excellent during his brief spring tenure and won consecutive races, including the Group 3 Chatham Stakes at this track and distance most notably.
He has since finished fourth in the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield and seventh in the Magic Millions Sprint, and he’ll appreciate the drop in class here.
2 Units E/W Sansom
Race 4 - 2:05pm AEDT
World Horse Racing Handicap (1200m)
There’s value around several runners in Race 4 on Australian Guineas Day including Groundswell, who I am putting on top.
Connections made the tough decision to geld the well-bred son of Fastnet Rock, once a Caulfield Guineas placegetter, prior to his spring campaign last year, but it has already started to pay dividends, and he won two of four starts.
He can slot in behind the early pace from a central draw and at around the $8 mark, we can have an each-way play.
2 Units E/W Groundswell
Race 5 - 2:45pm AEDT
Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m)
This is a big drop in class for Fabergino and she can return to winning form.
The talented mare recorded consecutive wins at this track and distance, including the Listed Kensington Stakes last month before running fourth, two and a half lengths behind Nature Strip in the Lightning Stakes here a fortnight ago.
She’s rock-hard fit, clearly relishes the conditions and anything close to her best would see her into the finish again.
4 Units Fabergino
Race 6 - 3:25pm AEDT
Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m)
She certainly hasn’t shown her best form in two starts in Tasmania since resuming, but I’m actually confident that getting back to the Flemington mile is just what Mystic Journey needs, and I’m happy to take the $7 around her in Blamey Stakes betting.
The Needs Further mare’s top line is obviously amongst the elite gallopers in Australia, and there’s also no doubt that she has stripped fitter for her two second placings in the Ladbrokes Stakes and the Listed Thomas Lyons Stakes this time
Her pet conditions are the key this week.
2 Units Mystic Journey
Race 7 - 4:05pm AEDT
Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m)
Tagaloa was an impressive winner of the CS Hayes Stakes a fortnight ago and with appropriate luck, he can record another win in the Australian Guineas.
The Lord Kanaloa colt has been outstanding since making his debut and won at Group 1 level during his two-year-old season most notably.
I am happy to put a pen through his run in the Caulfield Guineas last year as he was found to be lame and for mine, he is just one of the best horses in this field.
3 Units Tagaloa
Race 8 - 4:45pm AEDT
Inglis Dash (1100m)
Rocketing By has returned to the races in exceptional form and he can record another win in the Inglis Dash.
The So You Think colt resumed in a Class 1 race at Nowra in January and has continued to improve as the bar has been raised; winning in BM72 company at Randwick before flashing home to take out the Inglis Sprint last time.
Fitter fourth-up, I cannot find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
3 Units Rocketing By
Race 9 - 5:20pm AEDT
Group 3 Frances Tressady Stakes (1400m)
This is a tough way to end Australian Guineas Day from a betting perspective and there is a case to be made for many.
For that reason, I’m going to try and find the value, and I think that could lie with In Good Health ($26 at publish).
In Good Health improved noticeably during her first preparation for Peter Moody, including an impressive win in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes.
She races well fresh and I’m happy to have something small on at the price.
1 Unit E/W In Good Health