In its 32-year history, the Group One Australian Guineas has made itself a name as a source for future stallions.
Deservedly so too, having been won by the likes of Zabeel, Flying Spur, Pins, Reset and Al Maher.
And on occasions an extra smart filly can win the race too, the Australian Guineas honour roll inclusive of four talented girls; Triscay, Miss Finland, Shamrocker and Mosheen.
There are three girls taking on the boys this year – Harlow Gold, Legless Veuve and Fuhryk.
A NZ$200,000 purchase, Harlow Gold by Tavistock whose sire Werther is making headlines in Hong Kong, is attempting to become the third stakes winner for her dam Belongs In Lights – also dam of Gr.3 winner Weissmuller and dual Listed winner Travolta.
By the 2000 Australian Guineas winner Pins, Legless Veuve was a NZ$150,000 yearling. Bred on a 5 X 7 cross of the Gr.3 winning Epsom Oaks runner up Netherton Maid, she is a full sister to the Mannerism Stakes winner Tootsie.
By the in-form Star Witness, the $60,000 purchase Fuhryk has three generations of black type performing mares behind her with her dam Fuhrnatic stakes placed as was her grandam Tats whilst her third dam is the Vanity Stakes winner Pseudonym Miss.
So, to the boys. Carrying the number one saddlecloth this year is the Gooree owned and bred colt Prized Icon. Bred on the successful More Than Ready/Danehill cross, he is one of three stakes winners for the Listed winner Tropical Affair – also dam of Gr.3 winners Romantic Moon and Matras.
One of six stakes winners (from just 24 runners) by Choisir out of an Encosta de Lago mare, Divine Prophet is a home-bred for the Falcone family. Attempting to become the first Caulfield Guineas winner since Mahogany to claim Australian Guineas victory, he is a full brother to Gr.3 winner Proisir who is at stud in New Zealand.
Boasting a 4 X 4 cross of Rolls – dam of Flying Spur and grandam of Encosta de Lago – Seaburge is one of four stakes winners (from 27 runners) bred on a Sebring/Encosta de Lago cross. The $220,000 yearling is a full brother to Gr.2 winner Catch A Fire who lines up in the first at Flemington on Saturday.
$85,000 yearling Hey Doc is by Duporth out of Adelaide winner Heyington Honey whose sire General Nediym has been enjoying a stellar season as a broodmare sire. He is bred on a 6 X 6 cross of Gr.3 winning successful broodmare Mrs Peterkin, dam of Dancing Champ and grandam of Shareef Dancer.
A descendant of acclaimed matriarch Gondolette, Morton’s Fork – who carries a close 2 X 5 Danzig cross – is a Darley home-bred great grandson of the five time stakes winner Shavano Miss.
$620,000 buy Attention, whose sire Stratum and dam Flamboyance are bred on the same Danzig/Vain cross, is a full brother to the stakes placed Flamboyant Lass from the family of dual Gr.1 winner Tempest Morn.
Also by Stratum is $80,000 yearling Land Of Plenty, son of the imported Gr.2 winner Dancing. A half-brother to South African Listed winner Macduff, he hails from the family of successful stallion Habitat.
Descending from influential mare Chelandry, the $340,000 colt Oak Door is by the late Commands out of the Listed winner Beyonce’s Star whose grandam is the Gr.3 mare Solo Performance.
By the late Captain Sonador, $70,000 purchase Throssell bred in Queensland by Basil Nolan is also a descendant of Chelandry. A half-brother to the stakes placed Germayne Lass, he hails from the family of Gr.1 galloper Caledonian Boy.
The very handsome So Si Bon by So You Think out of dual Listed winner Black Minx (one of Lonhro’s first stakes winners) was a $250,000 purchase. Hailing from a strong family, his grandam is Emancipation Stakes winner Faith Hill whose dam is the Gr.3 mare Simply Believe.
Bred on a 5 X 3 cross of Sir Tristram, NZ$160,000 colt Anaheim is attempting to become the third Fastnet Rock (after Mosheen and Rock Classic) to win the Australian Guineas. He is a grandson of the NZ Oaks heroine She’s Country and his dam sire Zabeel won the Guineas in 1990.
Carrying a close 2 X 5 Nureyev cross, Inside Agent by Stravinsky was purchased for NZ$180,000 from Cambridge Stud. He is one of three stakes winners for the Gr.1 placed Octagonal mare Octapussy (second to Above Deck in the Doomben Cup), also dam of Gr.2 winner Pussy Willow and Listed winner Pussy O’Reilly. His grandam is the Gr.2 mare Dopff.
Attempting to continue the good run enjoyed by WA bred horses at this year’s carnival, Snitzon – who is bred 3 X 3 to Danehill via Redoute’s Choice and Blackfriars – is a $60,000 purchase by Snitzel who has already sired two Australian Guineas winners; Shamus Award and Wandjina.
If Theanswermyfriend happens to salute he will be the tenth stakes winner for High Chaparral out of a Danehill mare. The cleverly named NZ$70,000 purchase out of Blowin In The Wind is from the family of elite level winners Moonstone and Cerulean Sky.
It has been ten years since Redoute’s Choice’s first and only Australian Guineas winner Miss Finland and he is represented this year by two runners; Redouble and Hardham.
A $200,000 purchase for Spendthrift, Redouble out of the Gr.1 mare Special Mission carries a 5 X 6 cross of the wonderful mare Best In Show, Redoute’s Choice’s fourth dam.
A full brother to NZ 1000 Guineas heroine King’s Rose (whose son Santono Arthur is showing considerable promise in Japan) $300,000 yearling Hardham is out of the stakes placed Nureyev’s Girl.
It’s an even Australian Guineas this year and I am looking to Divine Prophet to create history by becoming the second Caulfield Guineas winner to take out the second Melbourne mile Classic.