Guineas stablemates hard to split

Mick Price-trained stablemates Instinction and Proliferate have pleased in a strong gallop at Caulfield ahead of their Group One clash in the Australian Guineas.

Price said there was little between the two three-year-olds with Instinction possibly having better acceleration than Proliferate who is going to be better suited to the longer races in the autumn.

On Tuesday morning, working over 1200 metres, Instinction finished a length ahead of Proliferate but Price said either horse could win the 1600m Guineas.

“Instinction has probably got a better turn of foot up to a mile (1600m) but I’m not underestimating Proliferate,” Price told Sky Sports Radio.

“He (Proliferate) is a beautiful colt and I really like him heading towards 2000 metres and beyond.

“If it is top of the ground (on Saturday) Proliferate is capable of running a really good sectional and he has plenty of stamina.”

Price is chasing his third Australian Guineas win in five years at Flemington on Saturday after winning the 1600-metre feature with Light Fantastic in 2008 and Heart Of Dreams in 2009.

Craig Newitt rode both Guineas’ winners for Price and only last Saturday combined with the Caulfield trainer to win the Blue Diamond Stakes with Samaready.

Newitt has stuck with Instinction in the Australian Guineas and at $9 the Exceed And Excel colt is the same price as Proliferate in TAB Sportsbet’s market.

The winner of three of his eight starts, Instinction was an impressive first-up winner of the Zeditave Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield and last start dead-heated for third to That’s The One in the Group Three CS Hayes Stakes (1410m) at Flemington.

Michael Walker will ride Proliferate who suffered his first defeat in four starts when resuming with a second to Pied A Terre in the Group Two Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 11.

Helmet, who was a disappointing fifth first-up in the Hayes Stakes, is the $2.80 Guineas favourite ahead of Mosheen ($6) and That’s the One ($7).

Trainer Peter Snowden said Caulfield Guineas winner Helmet had, as expected, trained on since his first-up run and was ready for the Australian Guineas after an impressive gallop at Flemington on Tuesday.

“Kerrin (McEvoy) was really happy with his work,” Snowden said.

“He’s come on since his first start which he normally does and we’re looking forward to Saturday.”

Final acceptances for the Guineas close on Wednesday when the barriers will be drawn.

AAP TU

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