Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted February 28 Journalists Share Posted February 28 Riff Rocket has opened as the clear favourite for the Group 1 Australian Guineas on Saturday afternoon. (Photo: George Sal/Racing Photos) The Group 1 Australian Guineas will headline a 10-race card at Flemington on Saturday, with 17 runners — including one emergency — accepting for the feature three-year-old event. The top six runners from the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes have chosen to push onto the Guineas, with most of them expected to peak in their target race of the campaign. Another three are coming through the Group 2 Autumn Stakes, where Snow Patrol (+1300), Southport Tycoon (+1100) and Zipaway (+1800) made up the trifecta. The top three in racebook order sit on the first few lines of betting with online bookmakers, with CS Hayes Stakes winner Riff Rocket opening as a +170 favourite. After returning to the racetrack with a dominant performance at Flemington, the Chris Waller runner is expected to improve as he steps up in distance. King Colorado (+550) was sent around as the favourite in the CS Hayes after he finished second in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes first-up, but the Ciaron Maher-trained galloper couldn’t stay with Riff Rocket in the final 200m. The Tony & Calvin McEvoy stable has accepted with Veight (+650) for his third start of the preparation, coming off a strong win in the Group 2 Australia Stakes and an impressive fourth-place finish in the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes. Two three-year-olds have been sent over from New Zealand to take on some of Australia’s best, with The Pendragon (+2500) and Quintessa (+1600) making the trip across the ditch. Apulia (+2500) and Sunsets (+4000) will be the only runners who go into the Guineas first-up, having run second and third, respectively, in last year’s VRC Derby last start. The 2024 Australian Guineas will be race eight on the Flemington program and is scheduled to jump at 4:15pm AEDT. Australian Guineas 2024 final field Odds as of 11:50am AEDT 28/2/24 1. Riff Rocket (9) T: Chris Waller J: Craig Williams W: 57kg F: 1×121 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: American Pharoah (USA) Dam: Missile Coda +170 -222.22 2. Veight (6) T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy J: Damian Lane W: 57kg F: 41×52 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Grunt (NZ) Dam: Neena Rock +650 +160 3. King Colorado (12) T: Ciaron Maher J: Mark Zahra W: 57kg F: 26×04 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Kingman (GB) Dam: More Aspen +550 +130 4. Apulia (15) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Luke Currie W: 57kg F: x2148 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Fiorente (IRE) Dam: Giannarelli +2500 +500 5. Zipaway (10) T: Neville Parnham J: Steven Parnham W: 57kg F: 3×314 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Playing God Dam: Boutique +1800 +400 6. Cap Ferrat (2) T: Chris Waller J: Joshua Parr W: 57kg F: 6×237 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Snitzel Dam: C’est Beau La Vie +2200 +500 7. The Pendragon (14) T: Michael Moroney J: Jordan Childs W: 57kg F: 21110 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: U S Navy Flag (USA) Dam: Kerre (IRE) +2500 +500 8. Run Harry Run (16) T: Michael Moroney J: Daniel Stackhouse W: 57kg F: 9×111 Age: 3YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Written Tycoon Dam: Maybe Markle +10000 +1900 9. Sunsets (13) T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young J: John Allen W: 57kg F: x3142 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Waterloo Sunset +4000 +800 10. Verdad (3) T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock J: Joe McNeil W: 57kg F: 3×526 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Justify (USA) Dam: Whistle Baby +1800 +400 11. Snow Patrol (7) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) J: Blake Shinn W: 57kg F: 1×431 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Contributer (IRE) Dam: O’Rocker +1300 +300 12. Southport Tycoon (4) T: Ciaron Maher J: Jamie Kah W: 57kg F: 22×92 Age: 3YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Colt Sire: Written Tycoon Dam: Ready To Rule (USA) +1100 +250 13. Otago (5) T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) J: Ben Melham W: 57kg F: 4×11 Age: 3YO Color: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Ocean Park (NZ) Dam: Steel Stilettos +1600 +360 14. Hey Fat Cat (1) T: Robbie Laing J: Ethan Brown W: 57kg F: 55411 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Rubick Dam: Keep de Rose (NZ) +2500 +500 15. Quintessa (8) T: Mark Walker J: Michael Dee W: 55kg F: 4122x Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Shamus Award Dam: Chaquinta (NZ) +1600 +360 16. Vieste (17) T: Benjamin Smith J: Brock Ryan W: 55kg F: 3×809 Age: 3YO Color: Brown Sex: Filly Sire: Maurice (JPN) Dam: Blazing Dragon +20000 +3400 17 (1E). Mah Ali (11) T: Benjamin Smith J: Fred Kersley W: 55kg F: 2×966 Age: 3YO Color: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: More Than Ready (USA) Dam: Demanding Miss +20000 +2900 Horse racing news View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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