Caulfield Guineas – 2023

Track: Good Weather: Fine

Fifteen three year olds have accepted for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas – the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace juggernaut have four of them!  The early favourite in the betting is the Chris Waller trained Militarize.  He is already a three time Group 1 winner and unleashed late to win the Golden Rose in impressive fashion last start.  The second favourite is Steparty.  He’s unbeaten and was outstanding winning the Guineas Prelude here three weeks ago.  The JJ Atkins winner King Colorado looks the other key winning hope.

Seven runners had their last start in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude over 1400m on 23rd September, three in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley on 29th September, two in the Group 1 Golden Rose over 1400m at Rosehill on 23rd September and two in a 3YO C&G Handicap over 1400m at Sandown Hillside on 1st October.

1. Militarize

Bolted in in the Sires and Champagne Stakes on wet ground in the Autumn.   Has shown no issues with good ground in his two runs back working home well in the Run To The Rose first up before storming home to win the Golden Rose at his last start.  He’s a good horse and clearly has a great chance again in this.  My only knock is the map.

2. Little Brose

Won the Group 1 Blue Diamond back in February but as I noted in my Guineas Prelude Preview he doesn’t appear to have made the age improvement some of the others have.  He needs to find 3 or 4 lengths to feature here.

3. King Colorado

He won the Group 1 JJ Atkins over the mile impressively at just his third start in June.  Resumed with a luckless run in Winx Stakes against the older horses and then never let down in the Golden Rose after being heavily backed.  He gets the Visors on here and from a perfect draw it wouldn’t shock to see him bounce back strongly.

4. Steparty

Unbeaten colt who won the McKenzie Stakes first up before a huge win here in the Guineas Prelude.  He’s drawn absolutely perfectly in barrier 7 to settle in the first six and should give the favourite Militarize something to catch.

5. Veight

He was disappointing in the Guineas Prelude after winning the McNeil first up.  That form hasn’t really worked out but D Lane back on is a big tick.

6. Griff

Did a solid job to win the Stutt last start but I can’t see him being a factor here.  Rough first four chance.

7. Scheelite

Has got back and stormed home in all three runs this prep.  Unfortunately he draws wide again here which probably means they have to go back again.  If he got the back of Militrarize he could certainly run a place.

8. Scentify

Wasn’t beaten far at all in the Guineas Prelude.  Drawn well in five.  If you like Steparty this colt needs to be considered for your multiples.

9. Southport Tycoon

Finished alongside Scentify in the Guineas Prelude.  Bias favours there.  Top four hope.

10. Wolfy

He’s an improving type trained by Nick Ryan and ridden by Blake Shinn.  Has won his last two but my concern with him is whether he can step his rating again having his sixth start in his first preparation.

11. Verdad

Really like this horse.  Sat on speed and raced away in fast time at Bendigo on debut, then should of won the Stutt at the Valley.  He’s got the Moonee Valley Vase written all over him but might be the knock out here on the way through!

12. Rock Empire

Waterhouse / Bott runner who was beaten three lengths in the Guineas Prelude.  Gets the master front running jock Tim Clark on for this.

13. Limburg

None.

14. Copacabana

Big go last start at Sandown in much easier race.  Was disappointing in that.  Would shock.

15. The Longest Yard

Through the same race as Copacabana.  He can’t win.

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

Lewis Oliver’s Tips	Jo Jackson’s Tips
4 Steparty	1 Militarize
1 Militarize	4 Steparty
3 King Colorado	6 Griff
7 Scheelite	3 King Colorado

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	6 Griff
2nd	5 Veight	1.75 lengths
3rd	4 Steparty	2.75 lengths
4th	3 King Colorado	3.5 lengths

The track was rated as Good 4.

There were no scratchings.