A trans-state showdown looms in Saturday’s $3 million Caulfield Guineas, with Sydney’s star trio Nepotism, Wodeton and Autumn Boy set to take on Victoria’s best three-year-olds.
The Chris Waller-trained pair Wodeton and Autumn Boy are expected to have James McDonald and Damian Lane aboard, while Blake Shinn has been confirmed to ride the Team Hawkes colt Nepotism.
West Of Swindon, who backed up his Sydney form with strong runs in the Exford Plate and Stutt Stakes, spearheads the local defence for Ciaron Maher. His stable will also field Navy Pilot and Observer, to be ridden by Jamie Melham and Ethan Brown.
Adding further depth are Vinrock and Vega For Luck for Matt Laurie, the Price-Kent stablemates Planet Red and Space Rider, and the Phillip Stokes-trained Regal Award and Stay Cosmic.
Autumn Boy and Wodeton share the current favouritism in the market both being at $4.00 whilst Vinrock is the next in betting on the third line at $7.00 with betting sites.
Likely Field for the Caulfield Guineas
| No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nepotism | M, W & J Hawkes | Blake Shinn |
| 2 | Autumn Boy | Chris Waller | |
| 3 | Wodeton | Chris Waller | |
| 4 | Vinrock | Matt Laurie | Mark Zahra |
| 5 | West Of Swindon | Ciaron Maher | Ben Melham |
| 6 | Planet Red | Price/Kent jnr | Jordan Childs |
| 7 | Space Rider | Price/Kent jnr | Beau Mertens |
| 8 | Navy Pilot | Ciaron Maher | Jamie Melham |
| 9 | Regal Award | Phillip Stokes | Lachie Neindorf |
| 10 | Rivellino | Kris Lees | |
| 11 | Romantic Encounter | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | |
| 12 | Highvol | Nick Ryan | Declan Bates |
| 13 | Observer | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown |
| 14 | Vega For Luck | Matt Laurie | |
| 15 | Hillier | R & A Archibald | Jye McNeil |
| 16 | Centu Cavaddi | Busuttin/Young | |
| 17 | Stay Cosmic | Phillip Stokes | Tom Stockdale |