Dual Group 1 winner Jacquinot is looking to keep his success going when the class colt lines-up as favourite in the Group 1 $1 million Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Jacquinot chases a second Group 1 win on the trot in Melbourne’s Australian Guineas 2023 this Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained son of Rubick has won over $2.38 million in stakes to date and can add to that this weekend third-up and fit in the Guineas over a mile.
He was a narrow winner in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) in Sydney last year and is two-from-two this campaign in Melbourne.
Fresh Jacquinot was good with a big weight winning the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1300m).
At his latest start he was second past the post to Gentleman Roy before being awarded the Group 1 CF Orr (1400m) win on protest.
He returns to his own age on the weekend jumping from out in gate 11 with Damian Lane continuing associations on the $2.25 through Ladbrokes.
The other best in Australian Guineas betting is fellow last start winner Elliptical ($6.50) drawn a treat in gate two for jockey Blake Shinn.
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Dundeel colt was good at the track from out wide first-up on February 18 winning the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m).
He should enjoy the extra meters seconds-up on Saturday having run a very close second to Golden Mile at big odds over the distance in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and second again behind Sharp ‘N’ Smart over further in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) last prep.
Two other runners are currently under double-figure Australian Guineas odds for the win with the Mitchell Freedman-trained Attrition ($9) scratching out of the Randwick Guineas in Sydney in favour of a run here and Legarto ($9.50) for New Zealand trainers Ken & Bev Kelso.
The talented Ms Jamie Kah partners Attrition from gate seven fourth-up in the Group 1 as the Churchill colt rises notably in grade after finishing just a half-length back fifth to Elliptical in the CS Hayes.
Legarto add some intrigue in this year’s Australian Guineas field with the Proisir filly travelling down under to take on the boys off some strong form at home in New Zealand.
She won the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas over a mile by nearly four lengths back in November and has been good in her two runs since.
The distance is ideal, she is drawn well in gate nine and has last weekend Blue Diamond winning hoop Michael Dee booked for her Australian debut in another plus.
The 2023 Australian Guineas is set to run as Race 7 at 4:20pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s nine-race Flemington card.
