2013 Caulfield Guineas preview, tips and live blog

The Caulfield Guineas is considered the leading event in Australia for three year old’s and is renowned as a stallion making race for the winner. Join us from 5.15pm AEDT for a preview, live blog and post-race analysis of the 2013 Caulfield Guineas.

The guineas has been won by many superstars of the turf who gave gone on to win multiple G1 events. The most recent winners include All Too Hard, Starspangledbanner, Whobegotyou and Weekend Hussler.

Last year’s winner All Too Hard went on to run an outstanding second in the Cox Plate, followed up by winning 3 Group 1’s in a row early this year before eventually retiring to stud.

Earlier winners of the Caulfield Guineas include celebrated champion sires Lonhro and Redoute’s Choice.

In this year’s edition there are ten colts and four geldings. Could one of these ten colts become the next champion sire?

Out of the 14 runners this year. Six have come through the Guineas Prelude, four through the Bill Stutt Stakes and two through the Golden Rose (including Dissident who also backed up the Group 1 George Main at WFA a week later).

Seven of the last ten Caulfield Guineas winners have come through the Guineas Prelude (1400m, Group 3).

Whobegotyou back in 2008 was the most recent guineas winner to come through the Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m, Group 2).

While All Too Hard came through the George Main (1600m, Group 1 WFA).
The Caulfield mile can be difficult for runners who have drawn wide, due to the short run to the first turn. Therefore would suit runners who have drawn inside.

After drawing the inside barrier, the Peter Snowden trained gelding Long John retains race favouritism. Prince Harada is on the second line of betting at $4.20 followed by El Roca at $8 and both Dissident and Éclair Big Bang at around the $9 mark.

Kerrin McEvoy will want to get Long John into a handy position early and try not to get boxed in from barrier 1. I think the Darley team would of preferred to draw slightly wider.

He definitely deserves his favouritism after his impressive 3 runs this prep but I think there could be a couple of horses who may give him a run for his money.

Prince Harada will be suited by his wide draw as both starts this prep he has drawn an inside barrier and failed to find clear galloping room.

We all know he has the potential to be a star and I think today is going to be his day. The mile will definitely suit the Haradasun colt and having Damien Oliver jump aboard is a huge plus. Four weeks between runs could be a query though.

Dissident raced against the older horses last start in the Group 1 George Main and did not disappoint after finishing only 2.5 lengths off Streama and Royal Decent.

He normally likes to race close to the speed, so from barrier 13 could find himself posted wide as they make the first turn.

Does Luke Nolen opt to take a sit and see if Dissident can produce a strong turn of foot? He is coming off a similar form line to All Too Hard through the George Main and is certainly going to be one of the main contenders.

El Roca fits the criteria of previous winners. Drawn inside and comes through a well fought second in the Guineas Prelude. The New Zealand trained colt has only had the three career starts for two wins and one second.

His run in the Prelude was huge, led throughout into a strong headwind and was only run down late.

There seems to be no real pace in the field so he could get a soft lead here and be hard to catch.

Charlie Boy is the best roughie in the race at around the $18 mark. His first up run was fantastic in winning the Danehill and was held up for most of the straight last start in the Guineas Prelude.

Once he got clear he hit the line strongly. He is usually slow in leaving the gates and could get held up again so I would like to see Michael Rodd have him sitting more prominently in the field.

Brad Durrant’s tips
1. Dissident
2. Prince Harada
3. Charlie Boy
4. El Roca

Justin Cinque’s tips
1. Long John
2. Shamus Award
3. Dissident
4. Prince Harada

Andrew Hawkins’ tips
1. El Roca
2. Prince Harada
3. Dissident
4. Long John

Cameron Rose’s tips
1. Prince Harada
2. Long John
3. Dissident
4. Shamus Award

Alfred Chan’s tips
1. Long John
2. Cluster
3. Eclair Big Bang
4. Prince Harada

Roar writers 2013 Spring Carnival tipping tally (five points if winning horse is tipped for first; three points if tipped for second; two for third and one for fourth):
After week eight
Alfred Chan: 31
Justin Cinque: 30
Cameron Rose: 29
Andrew Hawkins: 27