The Caulfield Guineas Prelude is a Group 3 race for three-year-old colts and geldings that takes place at Caulfield racecourse during the Melbourne spring racing carnival each year in September. The race is run over a distance of 1400 metres and worth $175,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 Caulfield Guineas Prelude was won by Helmet from Secret Hills with Specter third.
Taking place on the same day as the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, the Caulfield Guineas prelude is the male equivalent of the Thousand Guineas Prelude for fillies held on Underwood Stakes day.
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude is run over 1400 metres and is generally used as a lead up race for colts & geldings to the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas over 1600 metres in early October at the same track and Helmet (2011) and Anacheeva (2010) have both gone on to win the Caulfield Guineas after winning this race.
Some quality gallopers have won the Caulfield Guineas Prelude over the years including Wonderful World (2006), Apache Cat (2005), Elvstroem (2003) and Strategic (1995), and a number of three-year-olds who have contested this race have gone on to perform exceptionally well in many of our biggest races during their career.
Helmet (2011) ran third in the Gr1 Golden Rose over 1400m at Rosehill in Sydney on his way to winning this race in outstanding fashion and recent Caulfield Guineas Prelude winners have been Anacheeva (2010) and Demerit (2009).
Spring Guide
Anacheeva (2010) won the Caulfield Guineas after taking out this race. Rekindled Interest (5th in 2010) managed to win the Gr2 AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day and Hollowlea (6th in 2010) ran third in the same race.
Manhattan Rain (3rd in 2009) went on to run third in the Caulfield Guineas before running a top second place in the Gr1 WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, while Starspangledbanner (4th in 2009) led all the way to win the Caulfield Guineas before heading overseas for a very successful International career.
Whobegotyou (7th 2008) went on to win the Stutt Stakes, Caulfield Guineas and finished runner-up in the AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m), while Time Thief (2nd 2008) went on to finish runner-up in the Caulfield Guineas and then returned in the autumn to run third in the Gr1 William Reid Stakes.
Marching (2nd in 2007) won the AAMI Vase and placed in both the Caulfield Guineas and Victoria Derby. Wonderful World (2006) finished third in the Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Gr1 Toorak Handicap the following year before running second in the WS Cox Plate.
The Caulfield Guineas Prelude can often be a good pointer to the big spring races ahead.
2011 Caulfield Guineas Prelude result
1. $2.60 Helmet 58.5 K McEvoy
2. $18.00 Secret Hills 55.0 C Newitt
3. $14.00 Specter 56.5 N Hall
then followed
4. $51.00 Running Tall 57.5 M Zahra
5. $11.00 Cross Of Gold 55.0 D Oliver
6. $5.50 That’S The One 55.0 C Williams
7. $201.00 Isopach 56.0 D Nikolic
8. $21.00 Absalon 56.5 B Rawiller
9. $3.60 Golden Archer 57.0 L Nolen
10. $26.00 Grand Britannia 55.0 D Dunn
Margins: 3 1/4 len, 3 len Time: 1:21.40
Bet now on the Caulfield Guineas Prelude
Best price of the three Aussie Tabs with 'City Best Plus + SP'
Best Australian Bookmaker for Caulfield Guineas Prelude free bets
Racehorse Shares
2010 Filly by Lonhro
Lonhro * Mad Desire
* Super Vobis qualified through AT Bloodstock to be trained by Darren Weir.
* FREE agistment for 2 months when you buy a 10% share via Horse Racing Info!
