2011 Australian Guineas Preview & Tips

2011 Australian Guineas Preview & Tips

There is an 8 race meeting at Flemington featuring the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas over 1600 metres. This set weight race for three-year-olds has attracted a full field of 16 runners plus 4 emergencies. Many of the main fancies have drawn badly and the betting market is fairly open with Perth visitor Playing God early favourite at $5 due to his barrier 3 draw. The track is currently rated as dead.

In Sydney the feature event of the day is the Group 1 $350,000 Chipping Norton Stakes which sees the return to racing of Melbourne Cup placegetter Maluckyday.

Runners in the 2011 Australian Guineas at Flemington

Playing God ($5) is an exciting colt from Western Australia who has won 6 of his 10 starts, including the last 4 in a row. He won the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) in November, followed by the Listed Aquanita Stakes (1800m) then the Group 1 WFA Kingston Town Classic (1800m). After a spell he returned for a first-up win in the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy (1400m) at Ascot. He has drawn well and has been in Melbourne for over a week to get settled in. The main worry is a change of jockey. He is normally ridden by the trainers son who had an accident last week and won’t be on him.

We Can Say It Now ($5.50) is one of only three fillies in the race. This New Zealander has had 8 starts for 4 wins and a place. Two of those wins are Group 1 wins, both over 1600m, in November and December. After spelling she returned in the Group1 Waikato Sprint over 1400m where she ran 5^th behind older horses King Mufhasa and Wall Street. Has oodles of talent and will go better in her own age group. Drawn barrier 12.

Bullbars ($9) has performed well in his two runs back from a spell. He resumed with a second to Enjin Number Nine over 1300m and then won the Group 3 CS Hayes over 1400m at Flemington in a fighting finish.

Under The Eiffel ($9) is shaping up as a good racehorse with 3 wins and two 2nds from 5 starts. This preparation he has had 2 wins followed by a close second to Dusty Star in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes. This will be his toughest test to date and he has drawn midfiled in barrier 10.

Enjin Number Nine ($9) has won 3 of his 5 starts. When he wins he wins well but has not shown if he can get the distance.

Southern Speed ($10) is a lovely filly who is the least experienced racehorse in the field with only 3 races behind her. She won each won of them though. She won her first 2 starts in Adelaide by good margins and then won the Group 3 Vanity at Flemington in good style. Has drawn the widest barrier or would be a much shorter price.

Jo’s Tips – Australian Guineas

1. Playing God,  2. Dusty Star,  3. Southern Speed