Following two scratchings on Thursday, we have 15 three-year-olds contesting the 2021 Caulfield Guineas. This Group One classic run over 1600m can often be a grand final for these colts and geldings, with a big result doing wonders for stud prices of the former.
Last year’s winner, Ole Kirk, came in off the back of a win in the Golden Rose two weeks prior and then was sent to stud before making it to his four-year-old season. There is plenty on the line for this race and while this year’s Golden Rose winner, In The Congo, won’t be participating, the next four across the line will be.
They are headlined by Anamoe, who finished 0.2 lengths back in second in the Golden Rose and Sportsbet has him as $2.60 favourite, as of Thursday afternoon. Artorius is the only other run under double figures, priced at $4. That indicates that this is a two horse race but there are plenty of chances at juicy odds, so read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2021 Caulfield Guineas.
1. Anamoe (13) – $2.60
Jockey – Damien Oliver
Trainer – James Cummings
While he still sits at $2.60 odds at the time of writing, Anamoe may have jumped odds-on if he got a better draw. Barrier 13 is obviously not ideal for Anamoe but he is clearly the best runner in the race. Damien Oliver will have to give him an incredible steer but if he gets three-wide with cover he looks primed to win third up and could make his rivals look silly.
“That was a hard last 400m he ran.”
Will Artorius turn the tables on Anamoe from the Golden Rose?@Themodernpunter @BenAsgariRacing @Docturf pic.twitter.com/SEfISpXkqS
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 7, 2021
2. Artorius (2) – $4
Jockey – Damian Lane
Trainer – Anthony & Sam Freedman
There has been some commentary that Artorius got a massive advantage over Anamoe at the barrier draw, but is gate 2 actually beneficial for him? He clearly has the class and had much better closing splits than Anamoe in the Golden Rose but he is a backmarker who likes winding up in his runs before bursting home late. Will he be able to do that if he is stuck behind slowing horses on the fence?
3. Tiger Of Malay (1) – $12
Jockey – Craig Williams
Trainer – Richard & Michael Freedman
With the two favourites getting sticky draws, Tiger Of Malay could be the big improver out of the Golden Rose. He got a dream run there and finished just two lengths back in fifth, but with Anamoe and Artorius needing luck to go their way, Craig Williams can preserve energy and burst some late from the draw.
4. Alpine Edge (5) – $16
Jockey – Damien Thornton
Trainer – Toby & Trent Edmonds
Alpine Edge brings some unique but great form into this race. The best of that was two starts ago when he lost to Startantes by half a head despite giving her 4kg on the day. She has since come out and had an incredible run in the Golden Rose before backing up and finishing third in the Flight Stakes over this trip. He had no luck in the Guineas Prelude last start and looks to be an improver fourth up for this one.
5. Captivant (12) – $27
Jockey – Luke Currie
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
If the track stays good then Captivant has a fair few things going in his favour. Yes the wide draw doesn’t help but he is proven fourth up and at 1600m, winning the G1 Champagne Stakes during the Autumn Carnival. He will need some luck but one of the more proven chances in this race.
6. Lightsaber (10) – $15
Jockey – Luke Nolen
Trainer – Peter Moody
While Lightsaber seems to be a 1400m horse, his run in the Guineas Prelude was exceptional and he gives himself every chance by being up on the speed. Given the lack of speed predicted for this race, he could shoot ahead entering the straight and give the other 15 something to chase down, it is just whether he can sustain it over 1600m.
7. Giannis (6) – $23
Jockey – Brett Prebble
Trainer – Chris Waller
While the Golden Rose wasn’t the run that Giannis would have wanted, he won over 1500m first up and should appreciate getting back out in distance here third up. He came second in the JJ Atkins over this trip at the same time of his last preparation and with Prebble on board he should be in the finish.
8. Forgot You (14) – $18
Jockey – Daniel Moor
Trainer – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
While most of these come out of the Golden Rose or Guineas Prelude, Forgot You brings a completely different formline. He has won back to back races over 1500m and 1600m, including beating home three of his competitors for this race in the latter of those. The wide draw sticks out but given his running pattern, he will go back and hope to find cover before showing an exceptional turn of foot at the top of the straight. It is a rise in class but he brings winning form and should be flashing home late.
What a finish! Forgot You dives at Mr Mozart on the line and wins the Group 2 Stutt Stakes. 💥 pic.twitter.com/U6oN18jcJO
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 24, 2021
9. Coastwatch – SCRATCHED
Jockey – N/A
Trainer – Chris Waller
10. Mr Mozart (8) – $11
Jockey – Jye McNeil
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Has had an exceptional preparation so far, beating Artorius two runs back before a narrow second to Forgot You in the 1600m Stutt Stakes last run. Mr Mozart does meet Artorius 2.5kg worse at the weights for this run but has drawn well and should be forward throughout the race, making his own luck entering the straight.
11. Daily Bugle (9) – $46
Jockey – Jamie Mott
Trainer – Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock
While Daily Bugle was impressive when third to Forgot You and Mr Mozart in the Stutt Stakes, he raced against some of this in the Champagne Stakes in the Autumn and was six lengths off in 11th there. He has clearly improved this time around but will need to find a fair bit to feature.
12. Knightstown (4) – $151
Jockey – Jordan Childs
Trainer – Gordon Richards & Damien Moyle
Knightstown brings South Australian form into the race but has had one run in Melbourne already and it was far from impressive. He did finish strong in that three-year-old handicap at Sandown, highlighting he will appreciate the rise in trip but that was a much weaker race and he didn’t feature in the placings.
13. Dark Rebel – SCRATCHED
Jockey – N/A
Trainer – Edward Cummings
14. Zerelle (7) – $251
Jockey – Craig Newitt
Trainer – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
Finished behind Artorius, Lightsaber and Mr Mozart two runs back and then didn’t show anything in his run since then. Happy to leave out.
15. Riverplate (11) – $41
Jockey – Michael Dee
Trainer – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
This looks a class above given his runs in the Guineas Prelude and Stutt Stakes.
“We’re just happy to be in the race and we’ll take whatever we can get.”@mattbrownracing hopes to cause a boilover in the Caulfield Guineas with Prix De Turn. 🤞 pic.twitter.com/euO2er3seQ
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 6, 2021
16. Prix De Turn (15) – $35
Jockey – Brian Higgins
Trainer – Matthew Brown
There is a lot of hype around Prix De Turn, despite the colt having just one career run, coming second in a three-year-old handicap. Should put in an exciting run but the wide draw and rise in class may be too much to overcome.
17. Hitotsu (3) – $23
Jockey – Ben Allen
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Impressive last-start winner over 1350m in maiden grade last start and was scratched as favourite from last week’s Super Impose Stakes in favour of this. He is in the race, has seen his odds come in nicely and he should be right in the finish of this race, especially with the nice draw.
Final Word
Recent history has shown us that it is best to look for those who ran well in the Golden Rose and also those who are well off in the market. Favourites have won five of the last 10 runnings of the Caulfield Guineas, with second favourites winning three of those other five times.
Given there are a clear two in the market for the 2021 Caulfield Guineas, it is hard to look past Anamoe or Artorius. The two have faced each other three times in their career, with Anamoe holding a 2-1 record over Artorius, however the colt didn’t actually win the race either of those times, in the Golden Slipper and Golden Rose. On the other hand, Artorius has been beaten to the post two out of three times by Anamoe but the one time he actually did beat Anamoe, he also won the race, the Blue Diamond Stakes.
Where does that leave us for this race? Anamoe comes into the run third up, finishing no worse than second in his two runs this prep, while Artorius is fourth up, finishing second, second and fourth despite racing in ‘easier’ races. So that makes it seem as though Anamoe is the best Caulfield Guineas tip, however we still have shivers from backing him in the Golden Rose and not quite getting there.
In saying that, he does look to be the best horse in the race and could potentially go on to a Cox Plate with a dominant performance here. Hopefully the wide draw forces his price to drift on the day and get north of $3. Ultimately, Anamoe looks like one of the bets of the day and given Sportsbet are offering bonus back up to 5th, you should be safe to either win or get a bonus back as a worst case scenario!
Best Caulfield Guineas Tip: Anamoe – Win ($2.60).
If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our Caulfield Guineas page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of Sportsbet.
