Triple Group 1 winning Dundeel colt Militarize is favourite in a 15-horse field for Saturday’s Group 1 $3 million Neds Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
2023 Golden Rose winner Militarize is favourite to win Melbourne’s $3 million Neds Caulfield Guineas this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.
The Chris Waller-trained galloper is Melbourne-bound for the first time on the weekend following his last start flash home to salute in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m).
That was his third elite level success following a big autumn where he took out the Inglis Sires’ over 1400m and the Champagne Stakes over 1600m.
He returns to a mile fit in the Caulfield Guineas jumping from out in barrier 12 with Brazilian hoop, the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira retaining the ride.
Waller chases a third Caulfield Guineas success following previous victories Press Statement (2015) and The Autumn Sun (2018).
He is tipped to collect another trophy according to the bookies with the latest Caulfield Guineas odds online at Ladbrokes installing Militarize as the $2.80 favourite.
Following closely in Caulfield Guineas betting at $3.60 is Steparty who is unbeaten heading into his Group 1 acid test.
The Paul Preusker-trained son of Artie Schiller brings in a flawless five-from-five record to Saturday’s Melbourne feature including winning his opening Group assignment to take out the Prelude by a nostril flare on September 23.
No three-year-old has completed the Caulfield Guineas Prelude – Caulfield Guineas double since Helmet back in 2011.
Steparty is being kept safe in the markets to be the first in over a decade however following his ideal barrier seven draw for jockey John Allen.
Dominating the Caulfield Guineas field numbers-wise this spring with four final acceptors are Ciaron Maher & David Eustace.
The stable’s contingent is led by King Colorado at $8 who completes the single-figure fancies in post-acceptance markets.
Like Militarize the Kingman colt is a proven Group 1 winner over the distance having saluted in Brisbane’s J.J. Atkins as a two-year-old in the winter.
He took on the older horses fresh to run 2.39 lengths back ninth to Fangirl in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) before crossing under two lengths seventh in the Golden Rose.
Maher & Eustace also saddle-up last start Group 2 Stutt Stakes winner over the Moonee Valley mile Griff from barrier 15 of 15, along with the Prelude place-getters Southport Tycoon and Scentify drawn better in gates four and five respectively.
The other best out of the Prelude at $13 to improve and win the Group 1 on Saturday is the Ken & Kasey Keys-trained Real Steel colt Scheelite who ran fourth.
Other standout hopefuls include the autumn’s Blue Diamond Stakes winner Little Brose for Team Hayes, the rails-drawn Grunt colt Veigth who won the Group 2 VRC Sires’ back in March, and untapped Tivaci colt Wolfy chasing a third consecutive win but up notably in grade.
The 2023 Neds Caulfield Guineas is one of three Group 1 features taking place in Melbourne on Saturday while Sydney is host to a huge race card at Randwick headed by the $20 million The Everest race.
2023 Caulfield Guineas Field & Barriers
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13011×51 | MILITARIZE (NZ) | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 12 | 57kg | 108 | ||
| 2 | 21x218x436 | LITTLE BROSE | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Damien Oliver | 10 | 57kg | 96 | ||
| 3 | 411×97 | KING COLORADO | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Michael Dee | 8 | 57kg | 96 | ||
| 4 | 111×11 | STEPARTY | Paul Preusker | John Allen | 7 | 57kg | 86 | ||
| 5 | 114×15 | VEIGHT | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Damian Lane | 1 | 57kg | 88 | ||
| 6 | 5x51x6511 | GRIFF | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Ben Melham | 15 | 57kg | 86 | ||
| 7 | 11×554 | SCHEELITE | Ken & Kasey Keys | Mark Zahra | 13 | 57kg | 77 | ||
| 8 | 1×123 | SCENTIFY | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Ben Allen | 5 | 57kg | 77 | ||
| 9 | 112 | SOUTHPORT TYCOON | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Harry Coffey | 4 | 57kg | 78 | ||
| 10 | 26211 | WOLFY (NZ) | Nick Ryan | Blake Shinn | 11 | 57kg | 68 | ||
| 11 | 12 | VERDAD | Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | Beau Mertens | 14 | 57kg | 74 | ||
| 12 | 17 | ROCK EMPIRE | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 3 | 57kg | 65 | ||
| 13 | 9×6324 | LIMBURG | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Jye McNeil | 9 | 57kg | 64 | ||
| 14 | 3×23 | COPACABANA | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Jordan Childs | 6 | 57kg | 62 | ||
| 15 | 155 | THE LONGEST YARD | Matthew Brown | Brian Higgins | 2 | 57kg | 62 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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