G1 3YOs - Where the Real Action Is

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday July 1

2YO racing might garner a lot of attention, but the reality is G1 races run for this age group are shining a light on a comparatively small slice of that foal crop, whereas 3YO racing is where the real action lies as the good horses from the season before have to step up or slide out of contention.

There were 17 G1 winning 3YO’s in Australia this season and only one was a G1 winner last season at two and that was Too Darn Hot (GB) colt Broadsiding, who was the Champion 2YO  Colt with G1 wins in the ATC Champagne Stakes and BRC JJ Atkins.

Broadsiding was a dual G1 winner at two and again at three - not easy to do! - image Steve Hart

He returned at three to win the G1 Golden Rose (1400m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m) with a third placing in the Cox Plate also on his CV earning him a ticket to a stud career at Darley with his fee set at $66,000.

Switzerland was the only colt to come out of last year’s Golden Slipper to go on and win a G1 race at three and he too has gone to stud standing at Coolmore at a fee of $60,500 .

Australian G1 3YO Winners 2024/2025

Race Distance Horse Sex Sire Dam Sire
 South Australian Derby 2500 Femminile  F Dundeel (NZ) Pierro 
Victoria Derby 2500 Goldrush Guru C American Pharoah (USA) Medaglia D'oro (USA)
VRC Oaks 2500 Treasurethe Moment  F Alabama Express  Street Cry (IRE)
Australian Derby 2400 Aeliana (NZ) F Castelvecchio  Star Witness 
 Queensland Derby  2400 Maison Louis (NZ) G Super Seth  Makfi (GB)
Australian Oaks 2400 Treasurethe Moment F Alabama Express Street Cry (IRE)
Queensland Oaks  2200 You Wahng  F So You Think (NZ) Casino Prince 
Australasian Oaks 2000 Benagil  F Manhattan Rain  War 
Rosehill Guineas 2000 Broadsiding  C Too Darn Hot (GB) Street Cry (IRE)
Spring Champion Stakes 2000 El Castello  C Castelvecchio  Fastnet Rock 
Vinery Stud Stakes 2000 Treasurethe Moment  F Alabama Express  Street Cry (IRE)
 Thousand Guineas 1600 Another Prophet  F Brazen Beau  Reset 
Australian Guineas 1600 Feroce (NZ) G Super Seth  O'reilly (NZ)
Flight Stakes 1600 Lady Shenandoah F Snitzel  Starcraft (NZ)
Randwick Guineas 1600 Linebacker (NZ) G Super Seth  Oasis Dream (GB)
Caulfield Guineas 1600 Private Life  C Written Tycoon  Snitzel 
Coolmore Classic 1500 Lady Shenandoah  F Snitzel  Starcraft (NZ)
Golden Rose 1400 Broadsiding  C Too Darn Hot (GB) Street Cry (IRE)
Surround Stakes 1400 Lady Shenandoah  F Snitzel  Starcraft (NZ)
The Goodwood 1200 Reserve Bank  C Capitalist  Fastnet Rock 
Coolmore Stud Stakes 1200 Switzerland  C Snitzel  Blame (USA)
The Galaxy 1100 Private Harry  C Harry Angel (IRE) Congrats (USA)

The only other short course 3YO G1 winners were the colts Private Harry and Reserve Bank, who beat older sprinters to win their G1 races in The Galaxy and The Goodwood respectively.

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Reserve Bank won a maiden at Bendigo at his only start at two, while Private Harry was unraced at two and is undefeated from five starts at three.

Lady Shenandoah beat older mares to win the G1 Coolmore Classic - image Bradley Photograohy

Fillies were very much on the ascent this year with Lady Shenandoah and Treasurethe Moment winning six G1 races between them, while the fillies Aeliana and Feminile both won Derbies

Lady Shenandoah had two starts at two for two placings, one of them in a Listed race, while Treasurethe Moment had two starts in June at two at Geelong for a second and a maiden win.

Aeliana was unraced at two, while Femminile had two starts for a Listed win in Adelaide.

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