Australian Guineas Runner-By-Runner Guide
The Australian Guineas pits some quality gallopers up against one another and we take a look at the Australian Guineas horses.
Here is our runner-by-runner look at the Australian Guineas horses.
2021 Australian Guineas Horses
1. OLE KIRK $8.50
The Caulfield Guineas (1600m) winner from the spring battled into 8th position in the Futurity Stakes (1400m). There is some school of thought that he was caught in the slow lane but the question remains as to whether or not he has come back this preparation. Third up in the 2020 spring he took out the Golden Rose (1400m) but after drawing wide in barrier 15, the close relation of All Too Hard and Black Caviar might be worth risking.
2. TAGALOA $4
The 2020 Blue Diamond (1200m) winner took out the CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) in dominant fashion and that race is the tried and true lead up to the Australian Guineas. He settled handy that day and held off the challenge from Aysar, hitting the line strongly. That race rated through the roof and he went more that 14 lengths faster than standard after a solid tempo was set early on. A slight query is the barrier, while he just needs to handle the Flemington 1600m to take this out.
3. AYSAR $8
It is hard to knock Aysar despite his bridesmaid status. The Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes-trained galloper has finished runner-up at his past four. He missed out in the Caulfield Guineas behind Ole Kirk last spring and was runner-up to the eventual Oakleigh Plate (1100m) winner, Portland Sky, when resuming in the Manfred Stakes (1200m). He was outkicked by Tagaloa recently but is a first four contender after drawing barrier 2.
4. CHERRY TORTONI $13
I am very keen on Cherry Tortoni in the Australian Guineas. The Patrick Payne-trained galloper was the luckless runner in the CS Hayes Stakes and was held up at a vital time before just peaking late. He gets out to the 1600m now and claimed victory at the track and trip last winter ahead of the eventual Victoria Derby (2500m) winner, Johnny Get Angry. The son of Night Of Thunder will get back from the draw but if they go as hard as they did in the CS Hayes Stakes, he can run over the top of them late in the piece.
5. DOM TO SHOOT $10
The well named West Australian (unless you are a Collingwood fan) was 5th in the CS Hayes Stakes and that was his first run since placing in the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes (1800m) at Ascot against the older horses late last year. Perth gallopers have done well in Melbourne in recent months and if he can improve off his first up run he is well and truly in the mix from barrier 7 with Willie Pike to ride.
6. LUNAR FOX $126
Will start at big odds after finishing 13 lengths off them in the CS Hayes Stakes. Was 5th in the Caulfield Guineas behind Ole Kirk and gets the blinkers on for the first time but hard to see him challenging them.
7. GRANDSLAM $35
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper battled into 8th position in the CS Hayes Stakes and has some claims on the back of a 3rd placing behind Ole Kirk in the Caulfield Guineas but a top five finish seems the best result.
8. POLAND $11
Poland took out the Autumn Stakes at Caulfield three weeks ago and they did go 10 lengths faster than standard, which will put him in the mix against the CS Hayes runners. He is a previous Flemington winner and might be a bit of a sneaky chance at the $11.
9. BELTORO $51
The Robert Hickmott-trained galloper won his first two starts but has been outclassed by Ayrton and Tagaloa at his past two.
10. EMBOLISM $51
Another roughie that was well back in the CS Hayes Stakes. While he was a forgive runner in the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) behind Crosshaven at the track and trip last year, he will need luck from the wide gate to challenge these.
11. IT’SOURTIME $35
The Danny O’Brien-trained galloper was 3rd behind Poland in the Autumn Stakes (1400m) before finishing runner-up behind Oxley Road in the Zeditave Stakes (1200m). Rises to the 1600m and is a bit of a question mark over the trip.
12. JET PROPULSION $31
Another from the Maher/Eustace camp, Jet Propulsion was a fraction unlucky in the Autumn Stakes and was placed in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) behind Peltzer last year. Is a bit of an unknown quantity and it might pay to monitor the betting. The son of Rubick has eased slightly in the early betting
13. CAMBOURNE $18
The Mick Price-trained galloper was 7th in the CS Hayes Stakes at his first run of this preparation and will need to improve on that effort. Looked good last spring when running home strongly in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) before disappointing in the Caulfield Guineas. The stable have an excellent record in this race but he is one that might be worth risking.
14. IRONEDGE $71
Another from the Pice stable, Ironedge jumps sharply in grade after taking out a Maiden at Ballarat on February 7 over the 1400m. He went nearly nine lengths slower than standard in that race, which is 23 lengths slower than the figures that Tagaloa set. No.
15. HERE TO SHOCK $31
Led them up before finishing 10th and pulling up with issues in the CS Hayes Stakes. Won two weaker races prior to that but it is hard to see him finishing in the top five.
16. ZOU DANCER $5
The first of two fillies, Zou Dancer won the Vanity (1400m) at Flemington a fortnight ago by nearly five lengths from the Kennedy Oaks (2500m) winner Personal. The Leon and Troy Corstens galloper has risen from a Maiden at Dunkeld this preparation and is the second favourite in early markets. The daughter of Zoustar went more than 10 lengths faster than standard in her recent win. Her figures have improved with every start, while the fillies have a decent record in this race. Jamie Kah rides from barrier 8 and the pair are right in this.
17. LOFTY STAR $151
Will line up at cricket score odds and form says no.
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