AUSTRALIAN GUINEAS G1
RACE 8 - 1600m

OBSERVER / SIXTIES / PLANET RED

The exciting colt OBSERVER returned off a break to score a first-up win at Caulfield, his first run since a stunning win in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby last November. Ethan Brown partnered Observer in an unlucky third in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas last spring before Mark Zahra took over in the colt’s Moonee Valley Vase and VRC Derby victories. The three-year-old GHAIYYATH colt can be a little dour, but looks to have returned in fine shape, with the Australian Guineas an early Grand Final for the Maher team and Godolphin. Just a powerful young horse with a ton of natural ability, so will prove hard to beat.

Chris Waller always claimed SIXTIES was a Guineas type, with the Sydney colt using CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington to flash his Australian Guineas potential, completing a day out for star rider Damian Lane. The progressive three-year-old proved a class above his rivals in the 1400m Group 3, overcoming sitting three-wide without cover throughout to make it back-to-back wins following first-up success in restricted grade at Rosehill in January. Sixties, a son of FLYING ARTIE is a brother to ARTORIUS, and proved his credentials as an up-and-coming star by winning the Gr.3 Ming Dynasty at Rosehill last prep. Good enough to roll the favourite and should not be taken lightly.

The ADMIRE MARS gelding PLANET RED was purchased from the Karaka Ready to Run Sale in 2024 for $260,000 and hit the ground running last Autumn with a debut win over 1200m at Pakenham, before Mark Zahra guided him to another victory at Sandown Lakeside in May. Shuffled back in the McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley resuming in September, then hard ridden out wide to capture 3rd place in the Gr.3 Guineas Prelude at Caulfield. Came wide again to chase home AUTUMN BOY in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas in what was a highly commendable effort and we should see an even better competitior emerge this campaign. Solid resuming behind OBSERVER in the Autumn Stakes, so just be a little wary.


BLAMEY STAKES G2
RACE 7 - 1600m

WILLYDOIT / BIRDMAN / APULIA

The former Kiwi WILLYDOIT was a standout three-year-old stayer in New Zealand last season, winning the Gr.1 NZ Derby (2400m) and $847,000 for the Myracehorse syndicators. The TARZINO gelding joined the Ciaron Maher stables in Melbourne and did well for 4th in the ATC Australian Derby at Randwick before a decent break. Resumed in the Gr.2 Tramway (1400m) with a sound run, chasing hard but never really clear, and at a distance well short of his best, then only battled in the Golden Eagle in November. Has an opportunity here to showcase his wares and prove he can foot it at pretty decent odds. Distance is ideal and likely to go much better fully acclimatised with that first run out of the way.

BIRDMAN was up and firing on all cylinders for Chris Waller and the imported Irish gelding continues to make genuine progress with more racing. The Melbourne Cup this year may have been s bridge too far, although time will tell. Sound for 3rd despite being held up resuming over 1400m at Rosehill before getting trapped in a tricky spot six lengths off them in the Chelmsford (1600m). Joined in at the 300m to dual with ADELAIDE RIVER over 2000m in the Kingston Town and the gelding kept finding to prevail with a strong victory. Well-placed and he can charge into this with a sweet run in transit.

The Hayes will start APULIA who will go out a popular fave after winning the last two, and it is hard to knock this stallions formline. Won at Moonee Valley and Flemington late last year before a poor run in the Gr.1 Northerly at Ascot a month later. Would bounce back to win the Gr.2 Van Heemst (2100m) over in WA before taking out the Perth Cup (2400m), producing a big run and a dominant victory. That was on New Years Day, so should hold some residual fitness, although only one trial to prepare. Sure to be running on late. Prefer one, or both of the other two at much better odds.

INGLIS SPRINT
RACE 9 - 1200m

ALPHA SOFIA / JENNI THE NINJA / SIGNATURE SCENT

The Moody/Coleman trained ALPHA SOFIA potentially has this race by the balls based on her fantastic winning record of late, with a 4 from 5 formline. The beautifully bred CAPITALIST filly, who is from of the fine Queensland race mare SOFIE’S GOLD CLASS won two at Eagle Farm before transferring from the Edwards stable up north. Good ride by Zac Spain saw her win the Atlantic Jewel at Moonee Valley in September before being out away. Returned with a fine display to take out the Gr.3 Kevin Hayes (1100m) at Caulfield in early February and can easily carry on her winning ways here.

Gavin Bedggood possesses a highly promising filly in JENNI THE NINJA, who is expected to achieve black-type status either this preparation or in subsequent campaigns. Having just her second career start, the daughter of SHALAA measured up to, and accounted for, Group-performed fillies when taking the Jockey Celebration Sprint Handicap (1100m) at Flemington in mid-January. Having beaten Group 3 winner MILITARY TYCOON, while also easily accounting for ESHA, who contested the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) last time in, Jenni The Ninja appears destined for higher honours, but this may not be the day.

This looks a nice race for the Maher-trained SIGNATURE SCENT after running well as a two-year-old and a 5th on resuming. The WRITTEN TYCOON gelding is out of a brilliant NZ mare in SORIANO (Savabeel), who won the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke and Gr.1 Zabeel Classic, with the distinguished lineage clearly evident in this horse. Given her pedigree that mixes the speed of Written Tycoon with some pretty stout Kiwi staying blood, the future for Signature Scent in terms of distance range might be a case of trial and error. A big scopey filly, SIGNATURE SCENT is probably the most expensive breeze up horse ever sold in Australia when selling for $1million at the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale. Big mare, high cruising speed and well forward apparently

KIRIN ICHIBAN TROPHY
RACE 4 - 1600m

AHHA AHHA / SNEAKY SUNRISE / MOMETZ

AHHA AHHA has won two of her nine starts to date, and trainer Clinton McDonald believes the mare only now realises what this racing gig is about. The four-year-old broke her maiden status at Cranbourne in April and three starts later, at Sandown, saw her successful over TERRILEE. That race set up well for AHHA AHHA, who appreciated the solid tempo. The daughter of sire STARSPANGLEDBANNER finished 2nd at Cranbourne, then revved up late for 2nd at Geelong in the Fillies and Mares contest. Decent break from early January, before chasing hard out wide behind SNEAKY SUNRISE over 1600m returning at Caulfield. Likely to strip much sharper and can win this.

SNEAKY SUNRISE has been a fine performer for the MyRacehorse syndicators this season and THE AUTUMN SUN mare trained by the Hayes has stepped it up since winning at Ballarat in December. Chased steadily to finish 2nd at Caulfield Heath over 1800m, then outkicked late underneath when 2nd over the mile at Flemington in January. Returned to run at the mile back at Caulfield and did it easily beating home AHHA AHHA, so a repeat performance wouldn’t be much of a surprise. Just a really reliable galloper with a big heart and will keep trying to the line.

MOMETZ is a horse we have liked from day one and PIERRO gelding has just started to show his best in recent times. Did best in the final strides to get up at Pakenham over 1600m at the end of January, then franked that form when getting the bob in to claim victory over the mile at Caulfield Heath two weeks ago. Should rock up here in a strong state of fitness and ready to give this a real hot go for the astute Moody/Coleman team. With the Luke Cartwright 2kg claim he just has to be in the frame.

TAB WE’RE ON 2YO (L)

RACE 1 - 1000m

GIN TWIST / JACARANDA / LA GITANA

Team Hayes have GIN TWIST in here who does have two run under the belt, and neither were poor running in strong juvenile company. After two sound jumpout performances at Flemington, the HOME AFFAIRS filly raced up to hit the lead first up over 1000m at Pakenham, only gunned down in the final strides by BRAZEN DECHAMBEAU and OUR BRAVE BOY. Came out last start and put in a solid on pace effort for 3rd to RUBI'S CHOICE in the Gr.3 Preview, so definitely has some serious gas and only needs to find some extra stamina. Could be worth tracking this time with race day experience and fresh legs.

JACARANDA has to be a realistic chance after chasing home FIREBALL when 5th in the Inglis Millennium, and that pretty fair form for this. Stormed to a dominant victory at Seymour and she does boast an elite pedigree, being by HOME AFFAIRS from a Redoute’s Choice mare in GRACIE’S LASS, a half-sister to G1 winner, DELECTATION. That makes Jacaranda a half-sister to ARTORIUS and SIXTIES. Probably can really step it up here with Micky Dee in the saddle and certainly talented enough to be winning.

LA GITANA placed in the Chairman’s last start and is a few weeks between runs so should arrive in excellent condition. Also by HOME AFFAIRS, the filly is out of the NZ bred mare HIPS DONT LIE (Stravinsky), who was a lightly raced, but a very sharp sprinter. Only 3.5L off BIG SKY on debut for the Hayes, which is a pretty decent effort, so should only improve into this as and looms as a serious threat if trained on positively.

VOBIS GOLD COMET HANDICAP

RACE 5 - 1000m

MIDWEST / MCGAW / CELUI

MIDWEST is a sharp sprinter when he's on and Mark Zahra gave the ZOUSTAR gelding the perfect ride to win the VG Comet over 1000m at Flemington before a solid effort for 3rd in the Listed Bob Hoysted returning there. Ran 2nd to BARAQIEL in the Carylon before a spell and likely to strip in fine shape fresh up with three jumpouts and one run behind him and will probably try to settle forward with cover and gain a late tow through. Really is a much better horse then these odds suggest and we wouldn’t be shocked if he returned much stronger after another let up. Is a 7yo, so with more work under the belt he could be hard to catch from this tidy gate. Loving the $12 on this guy.

MCGAW, a cheap acquisition, demonstrated his potential with a decisive victory in the $1M VOBIS Platinum Showdown (1200m), marking a significant achievement for Emma-Lee and David Browne since shifting across the Tasman. Mcgaw’s debut win at Pakenham was a relative stroll in the park, but the $14,000 purchase by the sire I AM IMMORTAL proved he possessed bravery as well as brilliance after holding off the persistent challenge of the filly BEFUDDLE in a ding-dong battle down the Caulfield straight. It is equally challenging to assign a value to the enthusiasm generated by Mcgaw's seemingly boundless potential. He may look a bit wonky with big ears, but he does possess some stamina.

CELUI will jump close to favourite after displaying some nice qualities last prep and returned in fine shape when taking out a BM94 fresh up at Randwick, where this TORONADO gelding created his own luck. Came to the Richard and Will Freedman stable in early 2025 and didn’t look too bad on face value, but they seem to be getting the best out of him now. Not sure how the gelding will measure up here, and possibly too short in the market for our liking.

BENCHMARK 84 HANDICAP
RACE 10 - 2000m

POLITELY DUN / FIORENOT / SEAFALL

We've stood by the Danny O'Brien-trained gelding POLITELY DUN from day one, and despite only winning a single race, he has always looked above average as a strong endurance competitor. Resumed in February building but really displayed his true staying ability when sprinting home better than anything else for 2nd over 2400m at Caulfield before taking out a 2000m Handicap at Flemington. Typically, slow away, the gelding is bred to stay, with his dam POLITENESS (Street Sense) a top-flight G1 galloper. Hasn’t been far off them this prep and only needs a safe trip and some clear air to charge into it late. Odds are highly appealing and has the capacity to win this coming back in trip.

FIORENOT is a highly progressive stayer from the Tom Dabernig yard who just seems to be getting better with more racing, which is no surprise being from the fine stayer FIORENTE. Kept going soundly to win over 1800m at Flemington to wind down the year 2025, then gave a great chase to arrive on the line over the same trip in Melbourne, carrying a lofty 61kg as well! Had his chance when 2nd to TARVUE last start up to 2000m, but there was no shame in defeat. Will need to continue to step it up but does look a good sort on the rise and can progress through the staying ranks quickly.

SEAFALL sticking up at the 2000m is an interesting play, as the former Waller Sydney galloper is now in the hands of Team Hayes who are trying to extract the best out of this mare. Performed ok in NSW up to the mile but has yet to stamp her authority over further. Last won over 1600m at Warwick Farm last June, and a 3rd over 1800m at Caulfield, plus a 4th at 2000m at Flemington has indicated progress is being made. Forget Cranbourne, well fit now and just the type to sprint home hard and cause a minor upset.

BEST BET: ALPHA SOFIA

NEXT BEST: OBSERVER

BEST VALUE: WILLYDOIT

WILDCARD: POLITELY DUN