The release of entries for the Group I Caulfield Guineas this week adds interest to the early spring races which are often the first stepping off point for potential contenders, so let’s take a look at the 12 runners on Saturday that hold Caulfield Guineas entries.
The highest profile entrant is undoubtedly the Chris Waller trained Churchill colt Conqueror which has opened a short-priced favourite in race four at Randwick.
A $180,000 buy for Star Thoroughbreds and Brett Howard’s Randwick Bloodstock, Conqueror created a solid impression on debut back in February, overcoming trouble at a vital stage to score a narrow win on the Kensington Track midweek.
Fair to say that impression solidified further when the filly he beat, Seven Veils, came out at her very next start to win the Group Two Reisling Stakes.
Churchill is enjoying a strong northern hemisphere season with his three-year-olds headlined by Group One French Derby and Group One Eclipse Stakes winner Vadeni, so a promising youngster like Conqueror holds plenty of interest into his three-year old season.
The first race at Flemington has seven Guineas entrants including the short-priced favourite Berkeley Square, a gelding by Territories which was put aside after an easy win on debut at Geelong in May and resumed with a luckless second at Caulfield a fortnight ago.
Two other favoured runners at Flemington include Blakmax, third in the race Berkeley Square finished second in last start, and Palaggio, a winner by a big space on the Ballarat Synthetic on debut.
And don’t forget to cast the eyes a little wider with an interesting pair by Savabeel lining up at Moe and Newcastle.
At Moe we have Raetihi (Savabeel x Lego), a $155,000 NZB Ready To Run purchase, in the opening race making his debut and has opened favourite.
At Newcastle we have Bunker Hut (Savabeel x Pretty), a $520,000 Easter colt, which produced a strong finishing debut over 1200m and steps up to 1400m.
Click here to see all the spring feature race entrants which are racing on Saturday, including Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Caulfield Guineas and Thousand Guineas.
