Caulfield Guineas Preview & Best Bets
With $3 million AUD on the line, it’s little wonder that the Caulfield Guineas – the curtain-raiser of Saturday’s action at the Spring Racing Carnival – is so fiercely contested.
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But who will add their name to the outstanding list of winners in the race? Here’s a handful of selections for the Group 1 extravaganza.
Best Bet: Wodeton @ $3.40 with Pickle Bet
By our count, only 14 of the last 40 editions of the Caulfield Guineas have been won by the betting favourite.
So, it will be interesting to see if Autumn Boy, the market protagonist at the early declarations stage, will be able to upset the metaphorical odds, if not the literal prices.
He is trained by Chris Waller, who has twice landed the Caulfield Guineas since 2018, so that will certainly help. But perhaps preference is for Wodeton, another Waller charge who ran an eye-catching race in the Golden Rose Stakes back in September.
Wodeton and Autumn Boy went off at pretty much the same price in that Rosehill showpiece. And while the latter struggled in the speedy conditions, the former rose to the occasion – running a strong race, staying on well and heading off the race favourite Tempted… albeit in second place behind the surprise winner, Beiwacht.
The booking of James McDonald for the ride in the Golden Rose Stakes reveals how highly Waller and Coolmore rate Wodeton – perhaps even more so than Autumn Boy himself.
With a strong bloodline that features the great Wootton Bassett as sire, Wodeton has been bred for great success. And stepping up to a mile at Caulfield, he should have ample opportunity to frank those ambitions.
Next Best: West of Swindon@ $14.00 with Pickle Bet
The Stutt Stakes, named after Moonee Valley icon Bill Stutt, has been an excellent yardstick for the Caulfield Guineas in recent years.
In 2024, Stutt Stakes winner Evaporate headed to Caulfield and ran a game race, finishing less than a length behind the victor, Private Life.
A year prior, Griff completed the Stutt Stakes/Caulfield Guineas double for trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Ben Melham.
That Maher-Melham connection will team up in 2025 with West of Swindon, who in turn impressed when winning the Stutt Stakes by half a length back in September.
It was a notable performance in many ways, with this being the three-year-old’s first runout in fast conditions over a mile since switching to the Maher yard.
You’d need an abacus to count up the number of Group 1 winners that Wootton Bassett, the sire of West of Swindon, has produced over the years.
And the bloodline of damsire Starcraft can also be traced through to multiple Group 1 champion Lady Shenandoah, so there is a considerable pedigree of success coursing through the veins of West of Swindon.
Punters are entitled to expect further improvement from the Group 2 winner then, with Maher and his team well versed in prepping their stars for the rigours of the 1600m contest.
My Our: who looks strongest
If I had to pick, Wodeton looks like the top candidate, given form, market support, and the logical step up in distance. Autumn Boy is a serious threat, especially given the inside draw. West of Swindon is fascinating — if he can overcome the wide draw, he has the class to pay off.
But in a race like this, with a big field, set weights, and many variables (pace, barrier, track condition), there’s always room for upsets. Planet Red or Nepotism might be good “outsider with chance” bets.
Looking for the best Bookmakers to bet on The Caulfield Guineas?
Looking for the best online betting sites in Australia for The Caulfield Guineas? Here at Racingbase.com.au we provide the most up-to-date information on which bookmakers are the best in Australia. Looking for the best NRL and AFL content? check out our sister site Bettingpro.com.au for the latest tips and previews for the 2025 season
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