The Thousand Guineas 2011

The Thousand Guineas is a 1600 metre race for three-year-old fillies under set weight conditions, run by the Melbourne Racing Club. It is held in October each year at Caulfield as a midweek race during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Race Type: Group 1, 3YO Fillies Set Weights
Distance: 1600m
Track: Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
Date: 12 Oct 2011

The Thousand Guineas was first held as a principal race over 8 furlongs (about 1600 metres) in 1946 when it was won by Sweet Chime. From 1972 onwards it was held over 1600 metres and in 1979 it became a Group 1 race. It used to be held on the same Saturday as the Caulfield Cup but in 1988 it was moved to a Wednesday between the Caulfield Guineas and the Caulfield Cup.

There is a Thousand Guineas Prelude race over 1400 metres held in September at set weights with penalties and horses who do well in that usually go well in the Thousand Guineas. Winners of both include Irish Lights (2009) and Miss Finland (2006). The major lead-up race is the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes over 1600 metres, and fillies that run well in the Flight Stakes over 1600 metres at Randwick may come to Melbourne to contest the Thousand Guineas.

Winners and placegetters of the Thousand Guineas generally continue to the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes over 2000 metres on Victoria Derby Day and then the Group 1 VRC Oaks over 2500 metres at the end of the Flemington Carnival. At least a dozen fillies have won the Thousand Guineas – Wakeful Stakes double and even more have won the Thousand Guineas – VRC Oaks double. At least ten fillies have won all three races.

2011 Thousand Guineas Odds & Final Field:

The odds for this Wednesday’s Thousand Guineas at Caulfield are live with Kavanagh trained Atlantic Jewel the clear early favourite. Next up in the betting is Mosheen followed by the consistent bridesmaid Hallowell Belle. Check below for the latest odds and final field for the 2011 Caulfield Guineas.

Previous winners of the Thousand Guineas:

The Thousand Guineas is the female equivalent of the Caulfield Guineas run the Saturday before, and in recent years nearly all the winning fillies have been ridden off the pace and won with one long sustained run. Notable winners include Miss Finland (2006) and Toy Show (1975) who are the only two Golden Slipper winners to win the race.