Australian Guineas contenders
The $1 million Group 1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) for the three-year-olds was first conducted in 1986 and has an honour roll featuring champions of the Australian turf. We take a look at the contenders for this year's edition.
History says...
Since the Australian Guineas was first run at Flemington in 1986, eight horses have won the CS Hayes Stakes (The Debonair) leading into the Guineas. They are Zabeel, Mahogany, Mouawad, Dash For Cash, Wandjina, Hey Doc, Grunt and Alligator Blood.
Riff Rocket will be looking to become the first horse since Mahogany, and only the fourth horse in history, to win the Australian Guineas after winning the VRC Derby in the spring (joining Hitotsu 2022, Mahogany 1994 and King's High 1989). Favourites have only won three of the last fifteen with Lunar Fox saluting in 2021 with a starting price of $301.
Fillies have won six of the 38 runnings of the race with the Jack Denham-trained Triscay being the first back in 1991 and superstar New Zealand filly Legarto being the most recent, bursting through late to claim victory.
While Damien Oliver has ridden the most Guineas winners with three, the training honours are shared amongst Colin Hayes, Lee Freedman and Mick Price with three each.
Speed map
They should run along quickly as New Zealander The Pendragon only knows one way to race and that’s to lead. If Hey Fat Cat jumps well from barrier one he will also push forward. Run Harry Run may also work across from an outside draw. Veight and Verdad should get ideal runs on the pace. A quick tempo will play into the hands of Riff Rocket and King Colorado who will charge home.
4:15pm - Race 8 - HOWDEN AUSTRALIAN GUINEAS (1600m)
Prizemoney: $1,000,000 - Group 1 - 3YO Set Weights
Final fields as at 12pm, Wednesday 28 February
TAB # | Form - Last 10 | Horse | Age/Sex | Trainer | Jockey | |
1 | 17x12121x1 | Riff Rocket | 3YO Gelding | Chris Waller | Craig Williams | |
2 | 14x1525x14 | Veight | 3YO Colt | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Damian Lane | |
3 | 11x9740x22 | King Colorado | 3YO Colt | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | |
4 | 42x128412x | Apulia | 3YO Colt | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Luke Currie | |
5 | 43x11413x3 | Zipaway | 3YO Gelding | Neville Parnham | Steven Parnham | |
6 | 335x9732x6 | Cap Ferrat | 3YO Colt | Chris Waller | Joshua Parr | |
7 | 44x01112 | The Pendragon (NZ) | 3YO Colt | Michael Moroney | Jordan Childs | |
8 | 6111x9 | Run Harry Run | 3YO Gelding | Michael Moroney | Daniel Stackhouse | |
9 | x52512413x | Sunsets | 3YO Colt | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | John Allen | |
10 | 12625x3 | Verdad | 3YO Gelding | Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | Jye McNeil | |
11 | 134x1 | Snow Patrol (NZ) | 3YO Gelding | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | Blake Shinn | |
12 | 1129x22 | Southport Tycoon | 3YO Colt | Ciaron Maher | Ms Jamie Kah | |
13 | 114 | Otago (NZ) | 3YO Gelding | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | Ben Melham | |
14 | 6086x11455 | Hey Fat Cat | 3YO Gelding | Robbie Laing | Ethan Brown | |
15 | 1x11x2214 | Quintessa (NZ) | 3YO Filly | Mark Walker | Michael Dee | |
16 | 91908x3 | Vieste | 3YO Filly | Benjamin Smith | Brock Ryan | |
17e | x5167669x2 | Mah Ali | 3YO Filly | Benjamin Smith | Fred Kersley |
Riff Rocket
3YO Bay Gelding
Sire: American Pharoah (USA)
Dam: Missile Coda (Smart Missile)
Barrier: 9
Jockey: Craig Williams
Career: 8:5-2-0
Prizemoney: $1,689,125
Flemington highlights: 1st 2023 VRC Derby, 2024 Colin Hayes Stakes, 2023 Super Impose Stakes
Riff Rocket has a love affair with the Flemington track having had three starts here for three wins. His only loss from his past four starts was when he ventured to Caulfield where he ran second. He produced an extraordinary first-up win when he won C.S. Hayes Stakes bursting home over the last 200m to win a fast time. After the race Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth suggested that although Riff Rocket had won the VRC Derby, he wasn’t necessarily a stayer. He has been following in the footsteps of star galloper Mahogany who won the 1993 VRC Derby and followed that with the C.S. Hayes Stakes and the Australian Guineas the following year.
King Colorado
3YO Bay Colt
Sire: Kingman (GB)
Dam: More Aspen (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Barrier: 12
Jockey: Mark Zahra
Career: 9:2-2-0
Prizemoney: $846,850
Flemington highlights: 2nd 2024 CS Hayes Stakes
Brilliant colt who came from well back to finish second to Riff Rocket in the C.S. Hayes Stakes. On face value he was beaten on his merits by Riff Rocket but he had covered more ground than Riff Rocket. There was only .75 lengths between them and King Colorado would be suited by 1600m. Ciaron Maher has given him two runs before this race compared to Riff Rocket who will be second-up in it. In last year’s Caulfield Guineas he covered ground and finished a creditable fourth.
Veight
3YO Bay Colt
Sire: Grunt (NZ)
Dam: Neena Rock (Fastnet Rock)
Barrier: 6
Jockey: Damian Lane
Career: 9:4-1-0
Prizemoney: $1,248,740
Flemington highlights: 1st 2023 VRC Sires Produce Stakes
There’s little doubt he’s one of the best gallopers in his age group as he demonstrated with his second in last year’s Caulfield Guineas. His trainer Tony McEvoy believes he has returned to racing as a better horse this campaign. His two runs this time which produced a win in the Group 2 Australia Stakes at The Valley and a fourth behind Mr Brightside in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes is evidence of that. McEvoy highlighted that Veight’s finish behind Mr Brightside was the best run of his career thus far. He is looking forward to him returning to compete within his own age group.
Verdad
3YO Bay Gelding
Sire: Justify (USA)
Dam: Whistle Baby (Magnus)
Barrier: 3
Jockey: Jye McNeil
Career: 6:1-2-1
Prizemoney: $279,625
Flemington highlights: 5th 2023 VRC Derby, 3rd 2024 CS Hayes
After winning his maiden at his debut at Sale, Robbie Griffiths and Matt De Kock have thrown Verdad into the deep end. Although he hasn’t won, he’s raced well at each start that included two Group 2 seconds at The Valley last spring, an unlucky sixth in the Caulfield Guineas and a fifth in the VRC Derby. He resumed from a spell with another great run when he finished third in the C.S. Hayes Stakes, held up at the 300m mark when the quinella of Riff Rocket and King Colorado had begun their sprint.
Southport Tycoon
3YO Chestnut Colt
Sire: Written Tycoon
Dam: Ready to Rule (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Barrier: 7
Jockey: Blake Shinn
Career: 6:2-3-0
Prizemoney: $250,250
Flemington highlights: Yet to start at Flemington
Gifted three-year-old colt who doesn’t know how to run a bad race. Two runs this time have produced a second to Veight in the Group 2 Australia Stakes at The Valley and then second again in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield where he was run down late by another Australian Guineas chance in Snow Patrol. He endured a torrid run when he finished ninth in the Caulfield Guineas as he struck interference on two occasions in the straight.
Apulia
3YO Bay Colt
Sire: Fiorente (IRE)
Dam: Giannarelli (High Chaparral (IRE))
Barrier: 15
Jockey: Luke Currie
Career: 9:2-4-0
Prizemoney: $777,875
Flemington highlights: 2nd 2023 G2 VRC Sires Produce, 2nd 2023 Victoria Derby
Ben Hayes didn’t necessarily have the Australian Guineas on Apulia’s radar, but recent good jump-outs have persuaded him to have a go at it. He only needs to look back to last year’s Victoria Derby that he can match it with Riff Rocket as he went down to him in a photo. Hayes acknowledges Apulia is a Derby colt and he’s being set for interstate Derbies, but they thought his record was good enough to warrant a first-up tilt at the Australian Guineas. Hitotsu won the Australian Guineas first-up two years ago after winning the Victoria Derby.
Quintessa
3YO Bay Filly
Sire: Shamus Award
Dam: Chaquinta (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Barrier: 8
Jockey: Michael Dee
Career: 7:4-2-0
Prizemoney: $431,479
Flemington highlights: Yet to race at Flemington
The Melbourne stable of Te Akau are still on a high after the successes of stable star Imperatriz. Quintessa brings an impressive record herself winning four of her seven starts and follows in the footsteps of her stablemate Imperatriz as a past winner of the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m). She then acquitted herself well against the older horses last start in the Group 1 BCD Sprint (1400m) and was only beaten a couple of lengths. Her sire Shamus Award won this race after coming back from a spring campaign in which he won the W.S. Cox Plate, his first win.
Otago
3YO Chestnut Gelding
Sire: Ocean Park (NZ)
Dam: Steel Stilettos (Hussonet (USA))
Barrier: 5
Jockey: Ben Melham
Career: 3:2-0-0
Prizemoney: $112,125
Flemington highlights: 1st 3YO BM70 Hcp, 4th C.S. Hayes Stakes
He suffered his first defeat at his third start when he finished fourth in the C.S. Hayes Stakes but it was an effort that more than matched his wins at his first two starts. He stretched out strongly in the concluding stages and raced more tractably than in his wins and just missed third spot. He still looked a bit inexperienced in the closing stages so he’ll benefit a lot from that run. Mick Price has won the race three times and he’s not without a chance of making it a record fourth with this exciting form Kiwi.
Cap Ferrat
3YO Bay Colt
Sire: Snitzel
Dam: C'est Beau La Vie (Bernardini (USA))
Barrier: 2
Jockey: Josh Parr
Career: 10:0-1-3
Prizemoney: $465,450
Flemington highlight: 6th C.S. Hayes Stakes
He’s obviously Chris Waller’s number two seed behind Riff Rocket, but judging by his run in the C.S. Hayes Stakes he’s not without a chance. He finished strongly, running the second fastest last 200m of the race in 11.60 seconds which was only bettered by his stablemate in 11.47 seconds. His best run last spring was a second to Tom Kitten in the Spring Champions Stakes at Randwick. He would create history if he won as he would be the first horse to break his maiden status in the Australian Guineas.
Hey Fat Cat
3YO Brown Gelding
Sire: Rubick
Dam: Keep de Rose (NZ) (Keeper)
Barrier: 1
Jockey: Ethan Brown
Career: 9:2-0-0
Prizemoney: $106,625
Flemington highlight: 5th C.S. Hayes Stakes
This tough gelding will be in action for the fourth consecutive Saturday. Two starts ago he set a hectic pace in the C.S. Hayes Stakes and was grabbed with 150m to go and fought on strongly to finish fifth. He then took on the older horses in the Futurity Stakes and ran another credible fifth, but this time he settled back in the field and finished off nicely. He’s bound to run another cheeky race.
Zipaway
3YO Bay Gelding
Sire: Playing God
Dam: Boutique (Discorsi)
Barrier: 10
Jockey: Steve Parnham
Career: 9:3-1-3
Prizemoney: $646,850
Flemington form: No starts
Star Perth colt who had a tough run at his eastern states debut when he still held on to finish third in the Autumn Stakes behind Snow Patrol. He was first-up after he completed the Perth carnival in style with a win in the Western Australian Guineas followed by a third in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes behind the older horses Dom To Shoot and Zaaki.
The Pendragon
3YO Bay Gelding
Sire: U S Navy Flag (USA)
Dam: Kerre (IRE) (Pour Moi (IRE))
Barrier: 14
Jockey: Jordan Childs
Career: 7:3-1-0
Prizemoney: $378,940
Flemington form: Yet to start at Flemington
Kiwi galloper who had his final start before this event in the same race as fellow New Zealander Legarto last year, the Karaka Magic Millions 3YO Classic. He finished second in front of Legarto’s fourth. He’s in the astute Moroney stable and likes to lead, so should run a bold race.
Sunsets
3YO Bay Colt
Sire: Dundeel (NZ)
Dam: Waterloo Sunset (Fastnet Rock)
Barrier: 13
Jockey: John Allen
Career: 9: 2-2-1
Prizemoney: $351,365
Flemington form: 2nd Victoria Derby Trial Stakes, 3rd Victoria Derby, 4th Super Impose Stakes
He kept improving with every run that culminated in a third in the Victoria Derby. He carries the same colours as Hitotsu and he’s trying to emulate his performance winning the Australian Guineas first-up two years ago after he won the Victoria Derby, a race this stayer finished third in.
Snow Patrol
3YO Bay Gelding
Sire: Contributer (IRE)
Dam: O’Rocker (O’Reilly (NZ))
Barrier: 7
Jockey: Blake Shinn
Career: 4:2-1-0
Prizemoney: $218,790
Flemington form: 4th 3YO BM64
Under Mick Price, who has claimed victory in this race three times before, Snow Patrol displayed promise last spring. His recent win in the Autumn Stakes at Caulfield was impressive, and history shows that five horses who won that event went on to win the Australian Guineas.
Run Harry Run
3YO Chestnut Gelding
Barrier: 16
Sire: Written Tycoon
Dam: Maybe Markle (Denman)
Jockey: Dan Stackhouse
Career: 5:3-0-0
Prizemoney: $407,900
Flemington form: 9th CS Hayes Stakes
Blotted his copybook in the CS Hayes Stakes after putting three wins on end together at the end of last spring. He was slow to begin and also suffered some interference in the straight so the run was better than it looked. Untried at 1600m.
Vieste
3YO Brown Filly
Sire: Maurice (JPN)
Dam: Blazing Dragon (Pendragon (NZ))
Barrier: 17
Jockey: Brock Ryan
Career: 6:1-0-1
Prizemoney: $32,800
Flemington form: 13th Wakeful Stakes
Kembla Grange-trained filly who has shown the odd glimpses of potential. She’s likely to start at a price close to that of Lunar Fox who won this event in 2021 when ridden by Mick Dee at $301.
Mah Ali
3YO Bay Filly
Sire: More Than Ready (USA)
Dam: Demanding Miss (Commands)
Barrier: 11
Jockey: Fred Kersley
Career: 10:1-1-0
Prizemoney: $68,275
Flemington form: 6th Carbine Club Stakes, 6th Springtime Stakes
She was unlucky last start when she finished second in a Benchmark 64 at Canterbury in a race where her stablemate finished third. That hardly reads as good form for a Group 1 race.