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Caulfield Guineas preview

The highlight of the day at Caulfield is the stallion-maker race, the Caulfield Guineas. Traditionally a battle between the best 3yo males (not just colts) from both sides of the Murray River, this year we've got a very good filly in there as well to make the race that little bit trickier.

Lining up for the preview is international racing aficionado, Luke Humphreys, @WorldCallingLuke.

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Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas
Group 1, $2,000,000 1600m
Caulfield 0630 BST, 1630 AEST
ODDS LISTED ARE CROWNBET (FRIDAY MORNING BST)

1 The Mission (40/1): Definitely one of the pace angles. Likely to be one
of the leaders and then weaken if form is anything to go by. No chance if
ridden desperately early.

2 Summer Passage (SCRATCHED):

3 Azazel (40/1): Has been running to the line well of late but looks up
against it at this class. Likely to come with one run, especially with
question mark over the distance.

4 Sircconi (33/1): Has been running well of late after having no luck first-
up, knuckled badly at the start last week but probably wouldn’t have made
much difference. Despite towards the outside likely to go forward.

5 Showtime (11/1): G2 winner last time of the Stutt Stakes. Before that
was fifth in a LR at Flemington, won by the favourite for this race, after
going too hard early. Was a very easy Wyong maiden winner before that
on their Cup day. One of the pacesetters and drawn against the running rail
so likely to receive a perfect run, whisper is track will play bias towards
running rail and on pace, same as last meeting on October 1.

6 Royal Symphony (7/2): Long-time favourite for this that suffered his
first defeat in the Prelude at G3 level over 1400m here last time. However
that was an on pace dominated contest and was the only one to make
ground from the back so the run was much better than what it looked.
However will that be the case again?

7 Gold Standard (9/1): Good performances in the G3 Up and Coming
when second and G2 Stan Fox when easily winning and fourth last time in
the G1 Golden Rose, I expected a bit better, but he was a 10/1 shot. Should
be in the finish. Can go forward.

8 Perast (9/1): Has gotten better and better this campaign running solid
races in the Run to the Rose and the Rose up in Sydney and 100/1. Went
off similar odds to today when winning the trial race for this over a furlong
shorter. Continues to progress, should be going forward. Is definitely
tough and race fit.

9 Sanctioned (25/1): Dropping back in trip after running second in the 9f
G3 Gloaming and fourth as one of the favourites in last week’s G1 Spring
Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter. Also on a week back-up,
interesting but likely to be caught for toe and drawn poorly. On last week’s
run, don’t understand why he is dropping in trip.

10 Al Passem (100/1): Hasn’t been up to it against similar opposition of
late, no reason why that will change. Although in saying that did run
respectively in Danehill.

11 Kementari (9/2): Looked a quality prospect when winning easily at
Randwick in May. Ran well first-up at Rosehill and third in the Prelude for
this, but had every chance. However an extra furlong will suit, can
progress again.

12 Eclair Sunshine: SCRATCHED

13 Salsamor (25/1): Only one win but three seconds from four goes after
scoring on debut. Last start second in the G2 Stutt was a top run however
was only second in a small field at Sale prior, although distance was a tad
too sharp. Will find a couple too good.

14 Levendi (18/1): Impressive in first two starts but never ever got into it
in the prelude, overall a good performance. Won’t be disgraced.

15 Holy Snow (25/1): Good third in the Stutt last time, especially
considering he was lame, broke its maiden prior to that at Pakenham. Can
get involved with luck in running

16 Catchy (4/1): Star filly that is looking to become only the fourth filly to
win this and the first since freak Surround in 1976, who then won the Cox
Plate by a mile. Other winners were Dual Choice in 1970 and Storm
Queen who was absolutely supreme in 1966. Like many on the day was
unsuited by the track bias in the Thousand Guineas Prelude on October 1.
However is clearly the highest rated in the field, and was a game G2
winner before that and surged to win the Blue Diamond over 6f in
February. The last horse to win both the Diamond and this was Redoute’s
Choice in 1999, so this filly trying to break plenty of history. Can do so
though, a mile shouldn’t be a problem.

17 Mighty Boss (50/1): Emergency that gains a run. Not a bad fourth in
the Stutt last time and ran to the line well behind Royal Symphony at
Flemington prior, but outclassed.

Ratings: (16) CATCHY - (6) ROYAL SYMPHONY - (8) PERAST - (5)
SHOWTIME - (7) GOLD STANDARD - (11) KEMENTARI - (12)
ÉCLAIR SUNSHINE - (14) SALSAMOR - (9) AL PASSEM - (17)
MIGHTY BOSS

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