One of the premier three-year-old races on the Australian racing calendar, the Group 1 Australian Guineas, will be run and won this Saturday at Flemington Racecourse.
Last start CF Orr Stakes winner, Jacquinot, headlines the $1m mile feature and will be out to make it three wins in a row, and take home his third Group 1 title at just start number eleven.
He (Jacquinot) is currently the $2.25 favourite with Dabble, ahead of first up winner, Elliptical, at $6.50. Attrition is on the third line of betting at $8.00 and kiwi colt, Legarto, is not without a hope at $10.
However, we know with horse racing that anything can happen, especially in capacity fields. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2023 Australian Guineas along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Jacquinot (11) – $2.25F
Jockey – Damian Lane 57kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Did it the hard way first up at Sandown in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes before winning the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes in the stewards room last time out. Steps up to the mile now which suits and drops back to his own age group. Thrown in at the weights and clearly looks the one to beat.
Jacquinot has drawn barrier 11 in Saturday’s G1 Australian Guineas.
Legarto will jump from gate 9.#Flemington pic.twitter.com/RpT84jwXqM
— bet365 AUS (@bet365_aus) February 28, 2023
2. Elliptical (2) – $6.50
Jockey – Blake Shinn 57kg
Trainer – Anthony & Sam Freedman
Resumed from a break with a strong win in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes here at Flemington. Was narrowly beaten at Group 1 level at his only go at a mile and drawn to get a soft run from the gate. Looks to be one of the main dangers to the favourite.
3. Osipenko (13) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – Luke Nolen 57kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
N/A
4. Mr Maestro (15) – $21
Jockey – Ben Melham 57kg
Trainer – Andrew Forsman
On the quick back-up here after a solid second to Pericles last Saturday in the Group2 Autumn Classic. Drops back to the mile now which is a bit of an odd move and has come up with a horror draw, but has a stack of ability and loves Flemington. Place chance.
5. Virtuous Circle (10) – $61
Jockey – Blaike McDougall 57kg
Trainer – Liam Howley
Stepped away slowly and never got into the race first up at Sandown behind Glint Of Silver. Step up in trip here is a positive but this is no easy task second up. Others look to have him covered.
6. The Fortune Teller (6) – $31
Jockey – John Allen 57kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
What do you make of the Australian Guineas & Randwick Guineas being run on the same day? 🤔 #AfterTheLast pic.twitter.com/HELlZLu2wA
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 27, 2023
Had a good run first up in the Autumn Stakes and kept trying all the way to the line. Will strip fitter for that performance and gets a couple of key gear changes here. Can run into the placings again from the good gate and with the step up to a mile.
7. Bank Maur (17) – $31
Jockey – Jye McNeil 57kg
Trainer – Richard Laming
Outbobbed first up by Jacquinot, when beating home subsequent Group 1 runner-up, Ruthless Dame, before an even effort in the CS Hayes last start. Won’t find this any easier and the gate is what nightmares are made of. Will need plenty of luck if he’s to turn the tables on Jacquinot and a few others here.
8. Amenable (1) – $13
Jockey – Damien Oliver 57kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Went super first up in the Autumn Stakes, in what was a race dominated by those on speed. He ran the fastest last 400m of the day on that occasion and the form out of the race has since been franked by Pericles. Will need some luck from the inside draw but can win off his first up effort.
9. Elkington Road (4) – $26
Jockey – Jamie Mott 57kg
Trainer – Michael Moroney
Wasn’t beaten far in a bunched finish first up in the CS Hayes Stakes. Was beaten under two lengths in the Caulfield Guineas last Spring. Should get a lovely run from the draw here and the mile suits. Not the worst.
10. Lindermann (14) – $26
Jockey – Luke Nolen 57kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
*This horse has since been scratched.*
Ran ok first up in BM78 grade at Randwick before being let stride last time out and winning in good time. Pretty certain the instructions will be to let him roll again from the wide gate here but the opposition is tougher and the Flemington straight can be very long at the best of times. Others make more appeal.
11. Muramasa (16) – $51
Jockey – Daniel Moor 57kg
Trainer – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
Resumed after a Derby prep with a solid effort in the CS Hayes Stakes, where he was beaten under three lengths. Will be ridden back again here from the wide gate and despite the step up in trip being a positive, he may well be looking for a bit further. Nice horse, but not here.
Nominations are in for Australian Guineas Day at #Flemington.
View them here: https://t.co/RtQlYrjjkV pic.twitter.com/Uit1Iut791
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) February 27, 2023
12. Maximillius (3) – $26
Jockey – Ethan Brown 57kg
Trainer – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Had a good run behind the speed first up in the CS Hayes and battled away well all the way to the line. Was beaten just 2L by Jacquinot the run prior. Will most likely get a similar run in transit form the good gate again but is untried past seven furlongs. If he can run a strong mile he’s in with a hope at big odds.
13. Holymanz (5) – $19
Jockey – Mark Zahra 57kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Hit the front at the furlong last start only to be run down late by Elliptical. Maps to get another good run behind the speed here with Zahra back in the saddle. Wasn’t beaten far his only go at a mile last prep and can finish in the money again.
14. Attrition (7) – $8.00
Jockey – Jamie Kah 57kg
Trainer – Mitchell Freedman
Got back and motored home in the CS Hayes last start, despite having little luck in the home straight. Looks as though he will eat up the 1600m and is drawn well with Kah on. Looks one of the better chances.
15. Legarto (9) – $10
Jockey – Michael Dee 55kg
Trainer – Ken & Bev Kelso
Matamata trained filly who won her first five starts in a row, including the Group 1 1000 Guineas at Riccarton. Tasted defeat for the first time last start in the Listed Karaka Million behind Prowess, but had little luck and was far from disgraced. Two time winner at a mile and Michael Dee is riding well. Very wary.
What a legend is NZ trainer Ken Kelso.
He’s arrived at @FlemingtonVRC with Group 1-winning filly Legarto ahead of Saturday’s Australian Guineas @racing pic.twitter.com/tIkFAcL2o7
— Kate Watts (@katewatts_) March 1, 2023
16. Laced Up Heels (12) – $61
Jockey – Chris Parnham 55kg
Trainer – Luke Fernie
On the seven day back up after finishing fourth to Shuffle Dancer last Saturday. Was placed at Group 3 level her only go at 1600m in Perth and boasts a victory over the very smart Amelia’s Jewel. Hard to have her on top but could represent some value for exotic players.
17e. Japanese Emperor (8) – $126
Jockey – Daniel Stackhouse 57kg
Trainer – Michael Moroney
Second of the Moroney trained runners who ran ok first up in the Autumn Stakes. Will strip fitter for that run but has to turn the tables on a few of his rivals here, let alone beat the favourite. Not keen.
Final Word
Plenty of class to step out here in the Group 1 Australian Guineas but feel Jacquinot has a bit on them at the weights. He beat the older horses at WFA last time out in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes and should only improve out to 1600m. He’ll need some luck from the gate, but Damian Lane knows him well and he looks the one to beat.
The Mitch Freedman trained, Attrition, was luckless last time out in the Group 2 CS Hayes Stakes, a race that many of these come through. The step up to a mile looks favourable and he’s drawn to get a cosy run. Not sure if he starts here or Sydney, but is worth including whichever way they decide to go.
Amenable was super first up in the other form reference, the Autumn Stakes. He ran the fastest last 400m of the meeting that day and is another suited by the rise in trip. He’ll need a bit of luck from the inside draw but looks one of the key hopes.
Big watch on the trans-Tasman galloper, Legarto. He won his first five, including the Group 1 1000 Guineas at a mile and there’s not many jockeys riding better than Michael Dee.
Australian Guineas Tip
1. Jacquinot – Win ($2.25)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
