The Caulfield Guineas is a classic Group 1 race for three-year-olds that is held annually at Caulfield racecourse, Melbourne during the spring racing carnival in October. The Guineas is raced under set weight conditions over a distance of 1600 metres and is one of the highlights of the three day Caulfield carnival being worth over $1,000,000 in prizemoney. It was won in 2009 by Starspangledbanner who led all the way to defeat Carrara with Manhattan Rain third.
Caulfield Guineas day is held on a Saturday and kicks off the big three day Caulfield spring racing carnival in style, with two more accompanying group one races on the card, the weight-for-age Yalumba Stakes and the Toorak Handicap.
The Caulfield carnival lasts over consecutive Saturdays, with the second day being held on the Wednesday midweek with the Gr1 Thousand Guineas for fillies the highlight, and the following Saturday sees the main feature race of the Caulfield carnival take centre stage, the time honoured Gr1 Caulfield Cup.
The Caulfield Guineas is the Melbourne Racing Club's premier event for three-year-olds and was first run in 1881. This Caulfield Guineas has earnt a great reputation over the years and is one of the classic races of the spring racing carnival for 3yo gallopers.
The Guineas attracts the best colts & geldings available, and more than capable fillies, and is generally won by a quality three-year-old who often goes on to bigger and better things in seasons to come.
Winners of the Caulfield Guineas in recent times have been Whobegotyou (2008), Weekend Hussler (2007) and Wonderful World in 2006.
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Whobegotyou (2008) went on to take out the AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley later in the spring before finishing runner-up in the Victoria Derby at Flemington. Whobegotyou also went on to win the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and Yalumba Stakes in the spring of 2009.
Weekend Hussler (2007) went on to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes (formerly Ascot Vale Stakes) during Melbourne Cup week and won a number of quality Group One races as a three-year-old.
Generally the winner of the Caulfield Guineas goes on to be a more than handy horse up to 2000 metres and the race has been taken out by some quality gallopers, including Redoute's Choice, Alfa, Lonhro, Our Maizcay, St Covet and Mahogany. The last filly to win the Caulfield Guineas was the brilliant Surround in 1976.
It is not a race that leads to Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup winners very often. Caulfield Guineas winners seem to perform best in the WS Cox Plate where they receive a very good weight advantage over older horses.
Wonderful World (2006) finished second in the 2007 Cox Plate and Lonhro (2001) ran third in the 2003 Cox Plate. Manhattan Rain (3rd in 2009) was runner-up in the 2009 Cox Plate as a three-year-old after a third placing in this race, while So You Think (5th in 2009) went on to score a memorable win in the 2009 Cox Plate under the Bart Cumming's polish.
2009 Caulfield Guineas result
1. $13.00 Starspangledbanner 55.5 D Nikolic
2. $19.00 Carrara 55.5 C Brown
3. $9.00 Manhattan Rain 55.5 B Shinn
then followed:
4. $21.00 Extra Zero 55.5 N Rawiller
5. $6.00 So You Think 55.5 M Rodd
6. $21.00 Tickets 55.5 S Arnold
7. $3.10 Denman 55.5 K Mc Evoy
8. $5.00 Trusting 55.5 C Williams
9. $101.00 Eclair Fastpass 55.5 C Newitt
10. $101.00 River's Lane 55.5 N Hall
11. $51.00 Nicastro 55.5 D Dunn
Margins: 2-3/4 len, 3/4 len
Time: 1:35.69
2009 Caulfield Guineas: Starspangledbanner led easily and set a solid tempo out in front before skipping away to a handy lead in the straight and kept going strongly to score a classy victory. Carrara sat second all the way and held his ground to finish runner-up, while Manhattan Rain raced handy before running into third place.
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Caulfield Guineas recent results
| Year |
Winner |
2nd |
3rd |
Time |
|
2009 |
Starspangledbanner |
Carrara |
Manhattan Rain |
1:35.6 |
|
2008 |
Whobegotyou |
Time Thief |
Von Costa De Hero |
1:36.4 |
|
2007 |
Weekend Hussler |
Scenic Blast |
Marching |
1.36.4 |
|
2006 |
Wonderful World |
Excites |
Court Command |
1.35.9 |
|
2005 |
Gods Own |
Paratroopers |
Primus |
1.37.6 |
|
2004 |
Econsul |
Barely A Moment |
Under Command |
1.38.0 |
|
2003 |
In Top Swing |
Face Value |
Kempinsky |
1.36.0 |
|
2002 |
Helenus |
Bel Esprit |
Choisir |
1.35.4 |
|
2001 |
Lonhro |
Ustinov |
Pure Theatre |
1.36.7 |
|
2000 |
Show A Heart |
Fubu |
Sale Of Century |
1.35.8 |
|
1999 |
Redoutes Choice |
Testa Rossa |
Commands |
1.35.8 |
|
1998 |
Kenwood Melody |
Lauries Lottery |
Spectacular Gold |
1.38.0 |
|
1997 |
Encounter |
Schubert |
General Nediym |
1.36.2 |
|
1996 |
Alfa |
Intergaze |
Encosta De Lago |
1.35.9 |
|
1995 |
Our Maizcay |
Ravarda |
Octagonal |
1.36.7 |
|
1994 |
St Covet |
Marwina |
Blevic |
1.35.6 |
|
1993 |
Mahogany |
Port Watch |
Lets Cut Loose |
1.36.3 |
|
1992 |
Palace Reign |
Palace Symphony |
Shoeshine Henry |
1.45.4 |
|
1991 |
Chortle |
Naturalism |
Ready To Explode |
1.36.7 |
|
1990 |
Centro |
Integra |
Chime Zam |
1.38.3 |
|
1989 |
Procol Harum |
Zamoff |
Prince Salieri |
1.37.8 |
|
1988 |
Vitalic |
Almurtajaz |
Kings High |
1.36.8 |
|
1987 |
Marwong |
Our Poetic Prince |
Kaapstad |
1.36.1 |
|
1986 |
Abaridy |
Tristram |
Broad Reach |
1.36.4 |
|
1985 |
Drawn |
Shankhill Lass |
Acumen |
1.36.5 |
|
1984 |
Red Anchor |
Lord Of Camelot |
Spirit Of Kingston |
1.37.0 |
|
1983 |
Beechcraft |
Sir Dapper |
Handsome Seattle |
1.36.5 |
|
1982 |
Grosvenor |
Veloso |
Cossack Prince |
1.37.9 |
|
1981 |
Binbinga |
Lead Role |
Rose Of Kingston |
1.36.5 |
|
1980 |
Sovereign Red |
Joy |
Summer Devant |
1.38.2 |
|
1979 |
Runaway Kid |
Bold Diplomat |
Kingston Town |
1.40.8 |
|
1978 |
Manikato |
Karaman |
Hauberk |
1.36.6 |
|
1977 |
Luskin Star |
Princess Talaria |
Guns Away |
1.37.8 |
|
1976 |
Surround |
Family Of Man |
Great Lover |
1.41.1 |
