The 2017 Australian Guineas Form Guide is vital reading for punters ahead of the Group 1 feature race at Flemington on Saturday afternoon.
Hey Doc is the outright favourite to win Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
A talented and capacity field has been confirmed for the Autumn Carnival feature race and we have analysed each horse in detail, in order for you to find the 2017 Australian Guineas winner
A number of horses confirmed in the Australian Guineas field are yet to be tested at the class and distance of the race, while there is also several previous Group 1 winners set to contest the feature.
Prized Icon
Prized Icon is the only multiple Group 1 winner in the Australian Guineas field and he is sure to carry plenty of improvement into the race, having resumed for sixth in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago. The More Than Ready colt ended an impressive autumn campaign with a comfortable win in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) in 2016, before returning for a busy spring campaign which was highlighted by a dominant win in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m). Drawn ideally in barrier 3, Prized Icon will relish a step up in distance on Saturday.
Divine Prophet
Divine Prophet is one of the class horses of the Australian Guineas field and will be right in the finish of the race, if he can recapture his spring form. The Choisir colt beat a smart field to the line in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) first-up on August 20th, and continued to impress on his way towards a strong win in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m). Divine Prophet was unable to match it with an open field in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) first-up, but should respond favourably to a step back to his own age group and step up in distance.
Seaburge
The Lindsay Park-trained Seaburge is another horse that will be right in the finish of the Australian Guineas if he musters his best form. Seaburge was something of a revelation in spring; finishing second in each of the Caulfield Guineas and Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m) most notably. The Sebring colt was caught wide before finishing tenth in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) first-up, but is drawn for a far better run in transit in barrier 4.
Hey Doc
Race favourite Hey Doc has returned to racing in slick form this time and is undoubtedly the horse to beat in the Australian Guineas field. The son of Duporth has shown plenty of ability throughout his entire racing career, but has found particularly good condition since returning as a three-year-old. Winning the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) and finishing third in the Caulfield Guineas in spring, Hey Doc resumed this time for third in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) before jogging home to win the CS Hayes Stakes by close to two lengths.
Morton’s Fork
Godolphin colt Morton’s Fork has been a strong and consistent performer through eleven career starts and is not without a chance in this Australian Guineas field. The Ad Valorem colt is another horse who stamped himself as one to watch in spring; finishing second to Comin’ Through in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) before winning the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m). Morton’s Fork has performed well in two starts this season and has the notable advantage of Craig Williams in the saddle.
Attention
Attention is a real chance of saluting in the Australian Guineas after posting a string of impressive results in the lead-up. A Group 2 winner of 2016, Attention clearly needed a run when fifth in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) first-up, but has since finished second in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) and fourth amongst open company in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m). He’ll undoubtedly require luck in running, but the Stratum colt will be partnered by Hong Kong hoop Brett Prebble.
Oak Door
Oak Door carries winning form into the Australian Guineas and has been considered a good chance of winning the race at healthy odds. Other than a draw of barrier 18, the only real query is that the horse has been up for a long time, having contested nine races since resuming in October, but his comfortable win in the Autumn Stakes suggests he’s still flying.
So Si Bon
So Si Bon was one of the more consistent three-year-olds in spring and looks to be the real value in 2017 Australian Guineas betting at his current quote. The So You Think colt made a competitive transition to black type company in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude, before finishing fifth in the Caulfield Guineas, third in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) and fourth in the Victoria Derby most notably. Champion hoop Damien Oliver takes the ride.
Anaheim
Anaheim was unlucky to be balloted out of some of the Spring Carnival’s showpiece races and is a sneaky hope in the Australian Guineas with positive hoop Noel Callow aboard. Anaheim was finally given his opportunity at black type level in the Listed TV Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Crown Oaks Day and didn’t disappoint; extending to the line to win the race by a length. The Fastnet Rock colt is sure to have taken plenty of benefit from a first-up run a fortnight ago and has already received notable attention in Australian Guineas betting markets.
Throssell
Throssell is one of the Australian Guineas’ outsiders and it would take a career-best performance to win the race. He was held up in transit in the CS Hayes Stakes, but was unable to produce much after and finished eleventh. Throssell is drawn wide and this race is perhaps a bridge too far, at this point of his career.
Inside Agent
Inside Agent is something of an unknown quantity in the Australian Guineas field, but is another horse that probably faces too great a task this weekend. Inside Agent worked home well for fifth in the CS Hayes Stakes, but he could easily get lost in transit from a wide draw.
Snitzson
Snitzson has showed plenty of ability through his short racing career, but looked out of place in his first start at black type level in the Autumn Stakes. He is drawn well and will be partnered by in-form hoop Andrew Mallyon, but he doesn’t have the form of some of his rivals and it is tough to see him finishing this race off.
Land Of Plenty
Land Of Plenty has returned to racing in competitive form this time and is not without a sneaky hope of figuring in the finish of the Australian Guineas. Third in the Inglis Dash (1100m) first-up on January 28th, the Stratum colt ran home well for third in the CS Hayes Stakes last time out, but is another horse whose race could be determined by an awkward draw.
Harlow Gold
Harlow Gold is bred to win and the filly is arguably offered her best chance of a Group 1 win to date when she lines up in the Australian Guineas field. Capping an impressive spring campaign second in the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m), the Tavistock mare flew home to finish third in the Group 3 The Vanity (1600m) first-up and will only improve at a mile. In-form hoop Regan Bayliss retains the ride on Harlow Gold, who will fly with only 54.5kgs.
Legless Veuve
Legless Veuve won the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at odds on spring, but she failed to beat a single runner home in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) a fortnight later. She’s performed well in two starts this time, which included an impressive win in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m), but there is a big question mark over the distance and she is probably at the right price, at her current Australian Guineas odds.
Fuhryk
Fuhryk is one of the more interesting runners in the Australian Guineas field and is a live chance of winning the race, with some luck in transit. Fuhryk has quickly built to the task through six career starts; posting four wins including a last-start triumph in Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) on February 11th.
Theanswermyfriend
Theanswermyfriend is the first emergency for the Australian Guineas and is subsequently not a confirmed starter, but there is some upside to the gelding. Resuming for fourth in a Moonee Valley minor over 1200m on January 27th, the son of High Chaparral returned tow inning form in the Ladbrokes Odds Boost BM64 (1400m) on February 15th.
Redouble
Redouble has won just one of his six career starts so far and faces a big task in winning Saturday’s Flemington feature, if he gains a start. Redouble was last seen finishing off well for fourth in the Autumn Stakes on February 11th.
Hardham
Hardham has shown plenty of ability in his short racing career, but has been anything but consistent and won’t win the Australian Guineas. Having been transferred to the care of David Brideoake this season, Hardham resumed for sixth in the CS Hayes Stakes.
