A capacity field of three-year-olds will step out at Flemington on Saturday to contest another wide-open edition of the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).

Richard Litt’s exciting colt Profondo has been installed as the early favourite after winning last year’s Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick by a dominant margin, while last year’s Victoria Derby winner Hitotsu can also be found on the top line of betting.

There’s also a case to be made for Captivant, Lightsaber, and the undefeated Pinstriped.

The Australian Guineas is always one of the highlights of the Autumn Carnival, and our thoughts on each runner can be viewed below.

Showed real improvement second-up for third in the CS Hayes Stakes and has performed well on rain-affected going in the past. Will be better for having a run at Flemington and was a winner over the mile at Randwick in last year’s Champagne Stakes. Jamie Kah just missed out on winning the Blue Diamond for the Snowden’s last week and is in good form.

Lightly raced three-year-old that hasn’t put a foot wrong so far. Won on debut at Kensington during the spring and spanked them two starts later in the Spring Champion Stakes before being sent back to the paddock. Might find the mile a little sharp first-up but looked in great order winning last week’s Warwick Farm trial comfortably.

Flew home from second-last to run fourth in the CS Hayes Stakes first-up. Was unplaced in two starts at Group 1 level during the spring but was far from disgraced finishing three lengths off Anamoe in the Caulfield Guineas. Won at Moonee Valley second-up and is a definite each-way chance with the in-form Mark Zahra steering.

5. Alegron (3)

• Record: 10:1-2-1
• Group 1’s: 0
• Track: 4:0-1-0
• Distance: 1:0-0-0
• Trainer: James Cummings
• Jockey: Damien Oliver
• Odds: $67.00

Ridden quietly first-up in the CS Hayes Stakes and failed to make up much ground finishing eighth. Returned a place in both the Spring Champion Stakes and the Victoria Derby during the spring but is likely looking for further.

6. Coastwatch (18)

• Record: 12:3-2-2
• Group 1’s: 0
• Track: 0:0-0-0
• Distance: 1:-0-0-0
• Trainer: Chris Waller
• Jockey: Craig Williams
• Odds: $15.00

Went forward first-up and fought off a late challenge to win the Autumn Stakes at Caulfield right on the line. Ran a huge race for third in last year’s Golden Rose behind In The Congo and Anamoe, and typically finds the money second-up. Should be tough to run down again and is worth including in multiples.

Won the VRC Sires’ here at Flemington as a two-year-old and is worth forgiving on his latest effort when second last in the C.F. Orr Stakes. The tempo clearly didn’t suit him that day, but he should be much better suited getting out to the mile now on a bigger track. Has won both starts in his third run back and represents enormous value at the current quote.