Howden Australian Guineas contenders

Notable winners include superstar geldings Mahogany and Apache Cat, as well as influential stallions like Flying Spur, Zabeel, and Reset. Zabeel, in particular, became one of Australasian racing’s most influential sires, producing champions such as Might And Power and Octagonal.

The 40th running of this prestigious race promises to reveal yet another star in Australian racing. Keep an eye on three-year-olds showing promise in earlier spring races, particularly those with strong mile form.

The race has a history of producing future champions – who will step up this year?

ANGEL CAPITAL

Clinton McDonald has long believed Angel Capital was a star in the making, and his dominant first-up victory in the Autumn Stakes at Caulfield suggests that belief may be justified. The colt had little luck in last year’s Caulfield Guineas, his only start over 1600m and at Group 1 level. However, in the Autumn Stakes, his jockey patiently waited before sprinting over the top of his rivals, a performance that hints he is well-suited to the 1600-metre distance.

SEPALS

Cliff Brown has a third and a fourth to his credit in the Australian Guineas with Tarnpir Lane third in 1997 and Fubu who finished fourth in 2001 and he’s back with a big chance in 2025 after Sepals runaway win in the C.S Hayes Stakes (1400m) which he won by three and a quarter lengths in a manner suggesting he will be even better suited by 1600m. He’s had only four starts and he’s getting better with each start.

SAVAGLEE (NZ)

Savaglee has been the dominant three-year-old in New Zealand, and while his winning streak of four came to an end with a third-place finish in the Group 1 Waikato Sprint (1400m) at Waikato on February 8, he didn’t lose any admirers. In the 1400m event, he finished behind two well-credentialed Australian horses, Here to Shock and Bosustow, fighting on strongly for third. He is expected to be better suited over the 1600m distance, and his connections have had the Australian Guineas as his main target. In 2023, another Kiwi star, Legarto, claimed the Australian Guineas.

GOLDRUSH GURU

He proved to be the pride of South Australia when he outstayed his rivals to win the Penfolds Victoria Derby at Flemington last spring. His Adelaide-based trainer, Andrew Gluyas, is keen for him to secure a Group 1 win over 1600 metres. He has always displayed significant potential, and he proved he’s going to be a factor in the Howden Australian Guineas with a strong effort to finish fourth in the C.S Hayes Stakes.

ROYAL INSIGNIA

He’s a brother to the Blue Diamond Stakes winner Written By and is emerging as a top talent in his own right. While he lacks the early precocity of Written By, this three-year-old colt has taken time to develop and is showing great promise. Grahame Begg holds a strong opinion of him, and his impressive swooping victory in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes at Sandown solidified his potential. Royal Insignia is owned and bred by his father, Australian Hall of Fame trainer Neville Begg, further adding to the colt’s legacy. Forget his seventh in the C.S Hayes Stakes as he wasn’t suited by the wet track.

FEROCE (NZ)

Feroce helped put his young trainer, Dom Sutton, on the map in his first year of training when he narrowly missed a Group 1 win with a second-place finish in the Caulfield Guineas. Now based at Flemington, Sutton is aiming for a momentous achievement in his second year as a trainer – winning an Australian Guineas. An encouraging first-up effort, finishing third in the C.S Hayes Stakes, suggests he’s set to peak in the Australian Guineas. Feroce has plenty of potential and looks like the horse who could help him achieve that.

HENLEIN

This colt looks set to take his game to the next level this campaign. The son of Dundeel showed plenty of promise last spring with a second-place finish in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at The Valley and a runner-up effort in the Group 1 ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. His recent jump-outs suggest he’s in top form and ready to deliver this season. He was well supported in the C.S Hayes Stakes (1400m) but he floundered on the wet track.

NDOLA

The Hayes brothers have always held a high regard for this colt, and he made a strong statement for the Howden Australian Guineas with his eye-catching second in the C.S Hayes Stakes (1400m). After starting from an outside barrier, he settled at the back, then surged home to finish second in a remarkable display.