Caulfield Guineas – 2021

Track: Good-Soft Weather: Shower or two

There is a full field of sixteen runners plus one emergency for the $2,000,000 Group 1 Caulfield Guineas.  Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young have a very strong hand with three runners, while Chris Waller saddles up two.  Six had their last start in the Golden Rose, four ran in the Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley and two come via the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.

The early favourite in the betting is Anamoe.  The son of Street Boss has built an impressive record early in his career highlighted by a win Group 1 in the Sires Produce as a two year old and ran a slashing second in the Golden Rose last start.  Artorius is another coming via the Golden Rose.  He charged home to run fourth there and has been targeted at this race all along.

Tiger Of Malay won the Up And Coming Stakes at Kembla Grange on August 14 and is one of three runners in the race who will be wearing the China Horse Club racing colours.  The famous combination of Peter Moody & Luke Nolan are looking to win their second Guineas with Lightsaber.  They combined to win in 2010 with Anacheeva.  Mr Mozart upset Artorius in the Exford Plate at Flemington two starts ago.  Coastwatch finished third in the Golden Rose.   Alpine Edge gets the blinkers on, while Forgot You powered to the line to win the Stutt Stakes last time out.  The remaining runners are longer than $20-1.

1. Anamoe

Current race favourite who brings very strong form into this.  As a two year old he finished runner up in the Golden Slipper, then was dominant winning the Group 1 Sires Produce.  Won the Run To The Rose first up on September 11, then just missed in the Golden Rose with the bias against.  Barrier 15  is not ideal but he has the ability to overcome it.  A deserved favourite.

2. Artorius

Outstanding winner of the Group 1 Blue Diamond here as a two year old.  Retuned well with a strong closing effort in the McNeil Stakes and found the line hard again in the Golden Rose last start.  Will need some luck getting back from an inside barrier but gets Damian Lane for this who is as good as any in the big races.  Major player.

3. Tiger Of Malay

Son of Extreme Choice who is fourth up into this.  He ran a solid race in the Golden Rose and should be able to find a spot in the first four or five from barrier one.  One of the each way chances.

4. Alpine Edge

Queenslander who started favourite in the Guineas prelude.  I thought he was poorly ridden on that occasion and did a reasonable job to be beaten less than two lengths considering.  Blinkers go back on for this.  First four contender.

5. Captivant

Won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes as a two year old.  Only fair at his last two starts and has a wide barrier to contend with here.

6. Lightsaber

Looks likely to roll forward and sit in the first couple from barrier 11.  He was good wining the Guineas Prelude last start and gives every indication he will run a strong 1600m.  If the top two fancies in the betting find trouble back in the field then he his capable of causing a boil over.

7. Giannis

First of the the Chris Waller runners.  He won the Dulcify Stakes first up, then never came into it in the Golden Rose.  Needs to improve but does map well with Prebble.

8. Forgot You

Has surged late to win his last two starts at Moonee Valley.  He is a colt with a stack of ability but may find it hard here from barrier 16 despite having an inform jock aboard.  Look for him hitting the line hard as he heads towards the Victoria Derby later in the carnival.

9. Coastwatch – SCR

Son of Fastnet Rock who won the Ming Dynasty on August 28, then ran third in the Golden Rose.  Has an each way chance again here.

10. Mr Mozart

Upset Artorius to win the Exford Plate two back, then looked the winner before being collared late by Forgot You last start at Moonee Valley.  Another who will make his own luck up on or close to the speed.

11. Daily Bugle

Won the Mornington Sires earlier in the year.  Improved to finish third in the Stutt Stakes last time out.  Doubt he is good enough to be winning this though.

12. Knightstown

South Australian trained gelding who finished fourth in a much weaker race than this at Sandown last start.  Not for me.

13. Dark Rebel – SCR

His only win came on a heavy track at Wawrick Farm in May.  Hard to make a case for him here.

14. Zerelle

Is sharply up in grade from a fourth placed finish in a benchmark 64 level last start.  Would need to improve a long way to feature here.

15. Riverplate

Blinkers go on for this ex Kiwi gelding.  He ran a huge race first up in a high rating Sandown maiden and hasn’t been far away against Group company at his last two.  Consider for multiples.

16. Prix De Turn

Matthew Brown saddles up Prix De Turn who was a big eye catcher at his only start when finishing second in a three year old handicap at Sandown on September 25.  This is a big ask for him tackling a Group 1 at start number two but he clearly has plenty of ability.

17. Hitotsu – 1st Emerg

Two early scratching’s ensures he gets a run here.  He resumed for the new stable (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace) with an impressive maiden win at Donald.  Capable of running into the top four.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
1. Anamoe	2. Artorius
6, Lightsaber	1. Anamoe
2. Artorius	17. Hitotsu
8. Forgot You	10. Mr Mozart

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	1 Anamoe
2nd	5 Captivant	0.5 length
3rd	2 Artorius	1.25 lengths
4th	6 Lightsaber	2.75 lengths

The track was rated as Good 3.

Scratchings: 9. Coastwatch, 13. Dark Rebel.