Australian Guineas Race Information
The Australian Guineas is a three-year-old set weight race over 1600 metres run by the Victoria Racing Club. The race is held in March or February each year at Flemington during the autumn.
- Race Type: Group 1
- Distance: 1600 metres
- Conditions: Set weights, 3YOs
- Track: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
- Prizemoney: $1,000,000
- Date: Saturday 4 March 2023
Australian Guineas Race History
See the 2024 Australian Guineas Preview and results.
See the 2023 Australian Guineas Preview and results.
See the 2022 Australian Guineas Preview and results.
See the 2021 Australian Guineas Preview and results.
The first Australian Guineas was run in 1986, making it a relatively new race. It is Set Weights over 1600m with a 2kg allowance for fillies. In 1986 it was a Group 3 race and the inaugural winner was the class horse True Version. From 1987 on it has been a Group 1 race. In 1998 the Cadbury Australian Guineas became the third leg of the inaugural Australian Triple Crown for Three Year Olds and was ran over 2000m on Australian Cup Day in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
In 2001 the Guineas reverted to its original distance and date of mid-February. In 1995 there was a re-structure of VRC autumn metropolitan race dates and programs, and the 2005 Cadbury Australian Guineas was run on Newmarket Handicap day as part of the VRC’s Super Saturday, which is the first day of the Flemington Festival of Racing.
Prizemoney for the race is $1,000,000 and in 2007 it was run at Caulfield, as Flemington track was being reconstructed.
When Mystic Journey won in 2019 she was the first Tasmanian trained horse to win a Group 1 equivalent race in 133 years since Malua won the 1886 Australian Cup. She also became the 5th filly to win the race (the first since Mosheen in 2011). When Hitotsu won in 2022 he was the first horse to win this race first-up.
Useful Facts
Last filly to win: Mystic Journey (2019)
Fastest time (1600m): Apache Cat (2006) & Jolly Old Mac (1992) 1:34:00
Victoria Derby & Australian Guineas: Hitotsu (2022); Mahogany (1994); King’s High (1989).
Interesting trivia: 2004 winner Reset was sired by 1990 winner Zabeel. 1995 winner Baryshnikov is a half-brother (from the same dam) to Zabeel. 2021 winner Lunar Fox was 300/1.
Past winners of the Australian Guineas
In March 2008 it was won by Light Fantastic who had gone from a maiden to a Group 1 winner in a space of 33 days. Past winners include many quality horses including King’s High (1989), Triscay (1991), Mahogany (1994) and Miss Finland (2007).
It is interesting that the fastest time is held jointly by two horses 14 years apart – Apache Cat (2006) and Jolly Old Mac (1992).
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2024 | Southport Tycoon | Veight | Riff Rocket |
| 2023 | Legarto | Attrition | Japanese Emperor |
| 2022 | Hitotsu | Lightsaber | Bon’s A Pearla |
| 2021 | Lunar Fox | Cherry Tortoni | Tagaloa |
| 2020 | Alligator Blood | Superstorm | Soul Patch |
| 2019 | Mystic Journey | Beauty Legacy | Amphitrite |
| 2018 | Grunt | Peaceful State | Bring Me Roses |
| 2017 | Hey Doc | Prized Icon | Snitzson |
| 2016 | Palentino | Tarzino | Risque |
| 2015 | Wandjina | Alpine Eagle | Stratum Star |
| 2014 | Shamus Award | Criterion | Thunder Fantasy |
| 2013 | Ferlax | You’re So Good | Sheer Talent |
| 2012 | Mosheen | Strike The Stars | Mister Milton |
| 2011 | Shamrocker | Bullbars | Playing God |
| 2010 | Rock Classic | Set For Fame | Linton |
| 2009 | Heart Of Dreams | Von Costa De Hero | Lucky Thunder |
| 2008 | Light Fantastic | Marching | Playwright |
| 2007 | Miss Finland | Casino Prince | Jokers Wild |
| 2006 | Apache Cat | Darcy Brahma | Thin And Crispy |
| 2005 | Al Maher | Danehill Express | Econsul |
| 2004 | Reset | Starcraft | Under The Bridge |
| 2003 | Delago Brom | Tycoon Ruler | Thorn Park |
| 2002 | Dash For Cash | Royal Code | Ustinov |
| 2001 | Mr Murphy | Neptunes Journey | Outgate |
| 2000 | Pins | Freemason | Hades |
| 1999 | Dignity Dancer | Mossman | Lease |
| 1998 | Gold Guru | Zonda | Il Don |
| 1997 | Mouawad | O’Reilly | Tarnpir Lane |
| 1996 | Flying Spur | Saleous | Video Prince |
| 1995 | Baryshnikov | Hurricane Sky | St Covet |
| 1994 | Mahogany | Pride Of Rancho | Mr Mutual Respect |
| 1993 | Kenny’s Best Pal | Sarason | From The Park |
| 1992 | Jolly Old Mac | Naturalism | Laranto |
| 1991 | Triscay | My Eagle Eye | Centro Durbridge |
| 1990 | Zabeel | Ark Regal | Academian |
| 1989 | King’s High | Vitalic | Sir Midas |
| 1988 | Flotilla | Sky Chase | Spacecraft |
| 1987 | Military Plume | Vo Rogue | Hunza’s Ace |
| 1986 | True Version | Caledonian Boy | Black Charleston |
From the archives:
Australian Guineas Preview & Tips 2018
Track: Soft Weather: Fine
There is a full field of 16 runners plus 2 emergencies for the $1,000,000 Australian Guineas, with 2 fillies in the field. The betting is fairly open and the favourite is Cliff’s Edge who won the Group 3 Manfred Stakes before 2nd in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes last start. Second favourite is Grunt who won the Colin Hayes to make it 3 wins in a row for him. Third favourite is the filly Aloisia who won the G1 Thousand Guineas in the spring and who resumed for 2 lengths 5th in the G3 The Vanity.
Addictive Nature has only been unplaced once in 6 starts. Mighty Boss won the Caulfield Guineas and should be fit after two runs back. Peaceful State has 2 wins and 2 places from 5 starts. Main Stage resumed for 4th in the Colin Hayes after being tightened, and won second-up last campaign. The rest of the field is currently at 16 to 1 or longer including Embellish who is a Group 1 winner in New Zealand.
The following are the top 4 selections from our tipster panel for this years race.
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Jo’s Tips
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| 11 Grunt | ||
| 2 Cliff’s Edge | ||
| 15 Aloisia | ||
| 3 Embellish |