They call it the stallion-making race.
Run over the mile at Caulfield, the Caulfield Guineas is arguably the most prestigious three year old race on the Australian racing calendar.
Win this race as a colt and stocks will soar, with a career in the breeding barn assured.
The prizemoney of $3 million is chump change once the big studs come knocking at the door.
The Caulfield Guineas was first run in 1881 and has been won by some champion horses with thrilling performances.
We’ve run through some of these in our Most Memorable Caulfield Guineas Moments below.
2005 God’s Own
If you happened to be at Caulfield on Guineas Day in 2005, you were lucky enough to have witnessed one of the most thrilling performances on an Australian racetrack in the history of the Sport of Kings.
The Bart Cummings trained God’s Own was ‘flattened’ at the top of the straight and looked no hope of running down Paratroopers.
He picked himself up and stormed over the top with race caller Bryan Martin claiming he’d ‘never seen anything like it’ and he’s seen plenty.
2012 All Too Hard
Pierro had taken all before him as a two year old, winning the Triple Crown in Sydney and had returned well as a three year old.
He went into the 2012 Caulfield Guineas as one of the shortest ever priced favourites in the history of the great race.
He was four deep throughout the start of the race, settled in second and then pinched a break at the top of the straight making things seem ‘All Too Hard’ for the other 3 year olds.
Except for one!
2015 Press Statement
The Caulfield Guineas historically doesn’t throw up many surprises.
The punters have usually worked out who the better young ones are by the time the race comes around and the 2015 edition was no different.
Press Statement asserted his dominance over his age group and led from start to finish.
2009 – Starspangledbanner
Starspangledbanner was another who led from the outset and brained the field in the 2009 Caulfield Guineas.
It was a field that included So You Think, Manhattan Rain and Denman just to name a few.
Starspangledbanner showed his brilliance by emulating his sire, Choisir, and took on the best in England winning the Golden Jubilee Stakes and July Cup.
2018 The Autumn Sun
Australian Racing hadn’t seen as dominant a colt as The Autumn Sun for quite some time.
The Chris Waller trained colt started the 2018 Caulfield Guineas as a short priced favourite having already won two Group 1s heading into the race.
He finished his career having been beaten only once winning eight of his nine race starts including five Group 1s and almost $3.5 million in prize money.
2008 Whobegotyou
The Caulfield Guineas would not be a stallion making race for Whobegotyou.
As an early developing colt, the decision was made to geld him early on in his racing career.
He had 11 starts as a three year old taking out the Bill Stutt Stakes, Caulfield Guineas and AAMI Vase.
A very consistent horse who won two Group 1’s and twice ran third in the Cox Plate.
1995 Our Maizcay
Our Maizcay won 13 of 17 race starts including the 1995 Caulfield Guineas in a dominate display.
The third horse home that day was a little horse by the name of Octagonal, who ended up being fairly handy!
2013 – Long John
Long John would only have a short career as a race horse.
After running third in the Guineas Prelude he went into the 2013 Caulfield Guineas one of the fancied runners.
The punters were spot on and he beat a big field which included subsequent Cox Plate winner Shamus Award.
He was later sent to Dubai and finished his career in England.
1999 – Redoute’s Choice v Testa Rossa
One of the great Caulfield Guineas battles took place in 1999.
Two champions in Testa Rossa and Redoute’s Choice would fight out the finish with the latter edging clear over the concluding stages.
2010 Anacheeva
It was not a vintage running of the Caulfield Guineas in 2010 however Anacheeva had won his first 2 starts in his prep as a three year before taking out the 2010 Caulfield Guineas.
He finished over the top of Run For Levi and made history.
Warning, Ladbrokes own Peter Moody’s ugly mug can be seen in the footage.
2004 Econsul
As I mentioned earlier, the Caulfield Guineas doesn’t throw up too many rough results.
This is an exception to that rule as Econsul, at odds of over 40-1 took out the race in 2004.
He had not shown form good enough to beat the likes of Charge Forward, Fastnet Rock and Barely A Moment but alas it was a nightmare result for punters.