The three-year-olds are back for today’s Group 1 Rosehill Guineas over a testing distance of 2000m. Join our coverage here on The Roar in the lead up to the 3.30pm AEDT jump time.
All the rage today is about It’s A Dundeel who won the Randwick Guineas in his last start over 1600m, a distance which was below his preferred.
It’s A Dundeel attempts the second leg of the three year old triple crown as he progresses up in distance on his way to the Australian Derby over 2400m.
The son of High Chaparral has had a perfect autumn campaign so far after finishing strongly in the Hobartville Stakes before claiming victory in the Randwick Guineas against more fancied opposition.
His entry into today’s race has scared away most three-year-old staying talent with only eight other runners nominated to take him on.
Set to start odds-on, is there any other horse in this field who can challenge It’s A Dundeel?
Anthony Cummings trained Fiveandahalfstar has had an unfortunate autumn campaign so far, finishing second in all four of his starts this season.
He was going to be the biggest threat to It’s A Dundeel until he was scratched from the race yesterday morning.
Beyond It’s A Dundeel who will garner almost all attention in the betting ring, Hvasstan is the most interesting runner.
The Peter Gelagotis-trained colt has so far mostly avoided all the big name three-year-olds until today.
Hvasstan ran first up in the Autumn Stakes against Fiveandhalfstar to finish eighth in the race before running in the Australian Guineas second up.
Camped at the back for most of the 1600m journey, the Fastnet Rock colt blitzed home to finish fourth in an impressive gallop.
Next start, Gelagotis kept him in Melbourne for the Group 2 Alistair Clark Stakes over 2040m and Hvasstan won comfortably, relishing the step up in distance.
Peter and brother Manny Gelagotis have been spruiking their horse for the past fortnight claiming ignorance as to why their horse is being ignored by the punters.
The brothers are adamant that Hvasstan is the horse of a lifetime for them and that he will win big races during his career.
Whether or not those races include today’s Rosehill Guineas is questionable but Hvasstan is a stayer of the future.
The remaining six runners in this field will not fall below single figure odds but the best of them looks to be one of the two Peter Snowden runners.
Tatra returns after finishing third in the Randwick Guineas when he tried to lead all the way.
On that day, Tatra didn’t have the turn of foot to go with the like of It’s A Dundeel and Proisir but as he battled away down the straight, he was still extending his lead on the remaining bunch.
New Zealand import Sacred Falls will be fascinating to watch. The O’Reily colt was transferred over to Chris Waller’s stable last month after winning all six of his starts in New Zealand.
Under Waller’s care, Sacred Falls ran fifth in the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes behind Rebel Dane and fifth in the Randiwick Guineas behind It’s a Dundeel.
After a disappointing run in the Guineas with Corey Brown on board, Waller has hired the services of Leith Innes to re-accompany the colt today.
He’s bred to be a stayer but this will be his first attempt beyond 1600m and will be one to watch on his way to the Derby.
None of the other runners have anything that resembles weekend form to suggest they’ll be anything other than pace makers.
The bookies are all over this race. It’s a disappointing field for what is usually an excellent race but today’s result looks to be a Dundeel.
Tips
Alfred Chan
1. It’s A Dundeel
2. Hvasstan
3. Sacred Falls
4. Tatra
Justin Cinque
1. It’s A Dundeel
2. Hvasstan
3. Tatra
4. Sacred Falls
Andrew Hawkins
1. It’s A Dundeel
2. Twisted Emotions
3. Solemn
4. Hvasstan
Cameron Rose
1. Fiveandahalfstar (Scratched)
2. It’s A Dundeel
3. Twisted Emotions
4. Sacred Falls
Alfred Chan
Expert
Very hard to disagree Scuba. He is still yet to line up against Pierro or All Too Hard. They all just win so darn convincingly!
Alfred Chan
Expert
Murray Baker says It's A Dundeel will go onto the Derby and probably start just as short as he did today, if nor shorter. Now let's turn our attention to the Group 1 Galaxy which will be run in 30m. Join our coverage here: http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/03/30/2013-galaxy-horse-racing-preview-tips-and-live-blog/
Scuba
Guest
Best 3yo in the country for mine
Alfred Chan
Expert
It's A Dundeel paid $1.40 across the totes. A lot of happy punters!
Alfred Chan
Expert
It's A Dundeel has destroyed the field completely. What a turn of foot. He came from third last as they entered the bend and blitzed them 300m out and just increased the lead. He won by 5.7L from Sacred Falls and Tatra another .1L back.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Sorry, second last.
Justin Cinque
Expert
Wowee! Superstar colt!
Alfred Chan
Expert
Hvasstan dead last.
Alfred Chan
Expert
And Hvasstan is the last one in. And we're off in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas over 2000m. It's A Dundeel jumps fairly, Hvasstan missed it slightly, Bloodbuzz Ohio goes to the front, Tatra takes up second, It's A Dundeel goes to third last, BO still leads from Kingdoms and Tatra, Twisted Emotions moves up to third, Further back is Hvasstan who is one wide and It's A Dundeel stalking Hvasstan, Solem last BO still leads from Kingdoms Around the turn, It's A Dundeel sprints around the bend to the leads, Tatra, Sacred Falls, It's A Dundeel wins by 5 lengths, Sacred Falls claims second and Tatra third
Alfred Chan
Expert
Loading in now.
Alfred Chan
Expert
The biggest thing keeping from spruiking Hvasstan more is that this will be the first time the Fastnet Rock colt is running the Sydney direction.
Alfred Chan
Expert
The only action in the betting ring is on It's A Dundeel.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Five minutes from the jump now. It's A Dundeel $1.40. Tatra has drifted back out to $14. Sacred Falls and Hvasstan both $10.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Solemn and Hvasstan looked great in the yard but it's too hard to look past It's A Dundeel. Tom Waterhouse is taking on It's A Dundeel and backing Tatra. Does he know something we don't?
Alfred Chan
Expert
Twisted Emotions ok. Nothing to excite me enough but definetly a place chance. Kingdoms and Bloodbuzz Ohio are making up the numbers here. And thanks to them, the bookies will pay out for third!
Alfred Chan
Expert
Solemn looks perfect. Possibly the best looking in the yard for me.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Sacred Falls very playful in the yard Leith Innes over form NZ for the ride today.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Hvasstan is a small looking fella who is parading beautifully. He'll run on and be a right up behind It's A Dundeel today.
Justin Cinque
Expert
Dundeel fans would be pleased to know he's on the toe today. I've noticed when he brings the 'tude he usually wins. Should do so today!
Alfred Chan
Expert
It's A Dundeel looks only average in the yard but still a class above here. Tatra looks very relaxed.