Australian Guineas: What you need to know
AUSTRALIAN GUINEAS
Run at Flemington, 1600m, $750,000, Three-year-olds.
HISTORY
* First run in 1986 when won by True Version
* 1998-2000 run over 2000m
NOTABLE WINNERS
* Zabeel (1990); Triscay (1991); Mahogany (1994); Baryshnikov (1995); Flying Spur (1996); Mouawad (1997); Pins (2000); Reset (2004); Al Mahar (2005); Apache Cat (2006); Miss Finland (2007); Shamrocker (2011); Mosheen (2012); Shamus Award (2014); Palentino (2016).
TALKING POINTS
* Divine Prophet will be out to claim the Caulfield Guineas-Australian Guineas double.
* The three placegetters from the Caulfield Guineas in the spring – Divine Prophet, Seaburge, Hey Doc – will face each other again with Hey Doc favourite.
* Harlow Gold, Legless Veuve and Fuhryk will take on the males aiming to become the first filly since Mosheen in 2012 to win.
WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING:
“She’s back down in the weights on Saturday, her work has been terrific and we’ve done every test we can. Fingers crossed we’re back on track” – Legless Veuve’s trainer Stuart Webb.
“It is an advantage for him to draw out, he loves a bit of galloping room. He’s fit and right at the top of his game and there’s no reason he can’t be right in the finish” – trainer John O’Shea on Morton’s Fork.
“I think he showed in the C S Hayes he’s come back a better horse and he was quite explosive at the end of 1400 metres. You would have to be a very game person to say he couldn’t run a mile on that performance.” – favourite Hey Doc’s trainer Tony McEvoy.