The 2025 NT Guineas (1600m) takes centre stage at Pioneer Park on Day 2 of the Alice Springs Cup Carnival, and Saturday’s $50,000 feature is shaping to be an open betting affair.
Over the years, the event has produced plenty of surprises.
The Paul Gardner-trained Better Not Fuss caused a boilover 12 months ago when he saluted as a $91 outsider with horse racing bookmakers.
Such unpredictability is common, as the three-year-olds have limited success and experience over 1600m.
This year’s Guineas should be an interesting contest, with only one of the nine starters running a place over the mile.
Vanguard Legend, trained by Chloe Baxter in Darwin, finished third in a 1650m Doomben maiden last spring for Gold Coast trainer Peter Robl.
Arriving in the Top End after six starts, Vanguard Legend prevailed first-up in a 1200m maiden at Fannie Bay on February 21.
Kerry Petrick’s Buckleup Buddy and The Accelator have raced over 1600m and beyond.
Buckleup Buddy, preparing for his NT debut, was winless after seven Victorian starts for Stawell trainer Andrew Bobbin.
The Accelator, also winless in Victoria, battled over 1400m at Pioneer Park on February 15 and March 8 after contesting a 1500m Caulfield maiden and 1856m Kyneton maiden for Mornington trainer Jerome Hunter.
Ray Viney’s Grinzinger Lass — the early $3 Guineas favourite with Neds — led Greg Connor’s King Bling, Kym Healy’s Snore Room and Dick Leech’s Boom Smash Opera home over 1400m on March 8.
Darwin-based Point Loma, trained by Ella Clarke, was a last-start second over 1200m at Fannie Bay on January 25 after winning a 1300m Armidale maiden for Scone trainer Brett Cavanough.
The Men Went Home, another horse Petrick purchased from Hunter, launched his career in February with two thirds over 1200m at Seymour and 1423m at Sale.
Grinzinger Lass, the only filly in the Guineas, had plenty left in the tank a fortnight ago when pouncing along the fence in the home straight to win by 2.5 lengths.
NT form analyst Greg Aldam has spent the past month in Alice Springs and agrees the Guineas is an open affair.
“Grinzinger Lass certainly impressed last start and has drawn perfectly with gate one, which should guarantee a good run in transit,” he said.
“Snore Room has had success at Morphettville and will only improve from a hit-out and first look at the Alice track.
“King Bling has done little wrong and Point Loma should prove competitive, while Boom Smash Opera beat the three-year-olds over 1200m a month ago.
“Vanguard Legend looks to have exposed form around the 1600m trip and Kerry Petrick’s runners always need to be respected.”
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