The
Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas (colts and geldings) and Thousand Guineas (fillies)
are run at Caulfield this Saturday with final fields accepted this morning so
let's take a look at the Sale Mail which is interesting given the complete absence
of any super expensive yearlings – where are they?.
Race favourite Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) was never offered at public
auction, although was sold to a syndicate of breeders including China Horse
Club and Vinery Stud at the close of his two year-old season.
They would have paid more for him than the total purchase price of every other
runner in both Guineas and then some!
A Group I winner at two and half-brother to another Group I winner in Pressday,
Press Statement had the runs on the board, and looks well capable of adding a
few more before season's end.
The most expensive yearling purchase in either race is $240,000, a sum shared
by well fancied More Than Ready (USA) colt Ready for Victory, first emergency
Mr Individual (Starspangledbanner) and the unlucky, but highly promising Tulsa
(Sebring), who just can't draw a gate and will start from the carpark again
here.
Connections must wonder what they have done to deserve 16 gate three times in a
row!
Tulsa is however a gelding, so will have many opportunities in life going
forward as his racing career will not be ruled by the stallion barn and I
believe he has a big win in him somewhere.
Peter Moody has shown himself to be not only a champion trainer, but also an
astute yearling buyer with good chances in both races in Pasadena Girl and
Bassett, both bargain priced offspring of champion New Zealand sire Savaabeel.
Pasadena Girl won the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes at two and cost just $25,000
from the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, while lightly raced, but super promising
Bassett was a $60,000 pick-up from the NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
In recent years, the Thousand Guineas has been the domain of blue-blooded
fillies and in that case the Arrowfield homebred Stay With Me fits the bill
being by Street Cry (IRE) from champion Redoute's Choice filly Miss Finland, who
won this race in 2006.
Click here for Guineas Sale Mail which features no runners by champion sires
Redoute's Choice, Fastnet Rock, Exceed and Excel or Lonhro.