Group 1 racing returns to Headquarters this Saturday at Flemington with the time-honoured Australian Guineas headlining the program.
The $1 million three-year-old race has attracted last-start CS Hayes Stakes winner Riff Rocket, with Veight and King Colorado sitting on the second line of betting.
Elsewhere, the Group 2 Blamey Stakes also shapes as a key lead up looking ahead to the Australian Cup in just over a month’s time.
For thoughts on every race this Saturday at Flemington, check out our entire Australian Guineas Day Preview below.
Resimax Handicap (1100m) – 11:15am
Senegalia has been a tough horse to follow in recent starts, last seen finishing down the order at The Valley first-up over shorter.
The Street Boss mare was held up badly that day along the fence, forced to shift out at the 300m mark where she lost a stride or two in the run home.
This is tougher, but she does get in well at the weights with 3kg’s off under Jamie Kah.
Two of her four wins have also come here at Headquarters, while her second-up record reads just as well.
Providing she jumps on time and makes use of the soft gate, she should be a big improver out over further.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Sengalia
The Flemington 2000 (2000m) – 11:45am
Up And Under is a French import trained by Chris Waller making his second start in Australia.
The Lope de Vega entire appeared in need of the run two weeks ago over the mile, taken right back under Damian Lane where he really only hit top gear after racing wide into the straight.
The four-year-old got a little sideways at one point, costing him a stride or two when the race quickened.
He should be better for the run though, while he also held his own at Group 1 level over much further in the Irish Derby last year.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Up And Under
VRC Punters Club Sprint (1200m) – 12:20pm AEDT
Blistering is a smart mare for trainer John Pascoe that does hold genuine claims on return.
Lightly-raced for a five-year-old, the daughter of Ready For Victory made just the one start last year, finishing down the order at Moe in October where she was always wide the trip.
As a four-year-old, she did run a nice race for third behind Najem Suhail, while her recent win at the jump outs also caught the eye.
She might be in need of the run, but at an each-way price, she should be in the mix.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Blistering
Listed Furphy Trophy (1000m) – 12:55pm AEDT
Bold Bastille was a strong winner of the Listed Inglis 2YO race on debut during the spring, bursting clear over the concluding stages to score by 1.5 lengths.
She was found to be lame post-race after finishing midfield at Caulfield in the Blue Diamond Prelude three weeks ago, beaten three lengths in the end by last week’s Blue Diamond winner, Hayasugi.
The inside gate should be much more to her liking here providing she’s cherry ripe condition wise.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Bold Bastille
Off The Track Sprint (1100m) – 1:30pm AEDT
Peace Treaty looks to be a filly going places for the Freedman team.
The lightly-raced three-year-old capped off last year winning the Gold Carat at The Valley by a dominant margin, letting rip with a huge turn of foot to pull clear out of the turn and make every post a winner.
She had plenty left to give through the line that day, as we saw at a recent jump out a fortnight ago.
The soft gate and conditions suit, and with bigger races potentially in her sights, she should be hard to catch with another forward showing expected.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Peace Treaty
Good Friday Appeal Plate (1600m) – 2:05pm AEDT
Another Wil is airborne right now for Ciaron Maher, stringing together a pair of impressive wins at Sandown and Caulfield ahead of his debut at Headquarters.
The latest came three weeks ago where he proved a class above over the final furlong, booting clear under Jamie Kah to score with plenty of petrol left in the tank.
Sticking to the mile looks ideal, and providing he can get back early from the gate and save something for the finish, he’ll prove hard to hold out.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Another Wil
Inglis Sprint (1200m) – 2:40pm AEDT
Estriella wound up with a huge run down the outside to win impressively on return a few weeks ago at Caulfield, a performance she can only build on with fitness on her side.
Ciaron Maher’s filly remains unbeaten first-up, also boasting some impressive form in tougher races at Group 2 level last year.
Blake Shinn sticks and with a well-timed run coming off the speed again, she’ll be hard to beat.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Estriella
Group 1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) – 3:15pm AEDT
There are a few capable of beating Riff Rocket in this field, but it’s still tough to knock Waller’s three-year-old off a massive win in the CS Hayes two weeks ago first-up.
Last year’s VRC Derby winner found the perfect set up at the top of the straight, finding the front at the 100m mark where he booted home to win by close to a length under Craig Williams.
The pair combine again here, and although the gate makes things slightly trickier, this still looks the next logical step as they get out over further.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Riff Rocket
Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) – 3:55pm AEDT
Atishu is down to race in the Verry Elleegant at Randwick, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she heads here instead coming off a flat effort in the CF Orr first-up off a break.
The Savabeel mare gave away a start and was a long way back at the turn, failing to fire a shot when the going got tough.
After winning the Mackinnon the start prior to round out the spring, she’s obviously capable of much better, but I do think the stable might be keen to keep her in Melbourne with other races in mind.
We saw her run well off a disappointing effort in the Empire Rose during the spring, and if she can shuffle back from the awkward gate, that could be the case again here.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Atishu
The Schweppes Plate (1400m) – 4:35pm AEDT
Tough race to end, but certainly a winnable one for Phillip Stokes’ gelding Arran Bay.
The son of All Too Hard stamped himself as one to follow fresh over the same track and distance last month, charging late to finish two lengths off Jennilala following a wide ride in transit.
Three of his five wins have come at this stage of his prep second-up, not to mention the fact he’s drawn a much more favourable gate on this occasion.
Daniel Stackhouse was responsible for his most recent win at Caulfield last July and I don’t think the pair will have any problem finding a spot off midfield early.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Arran Bay
