A big day of mile racing at Flemington is highlighted by the 2023 Australian Guineas (1600m) where a last start winner against the older horses will start favourite.
Jacquinot ($3.20 betr.com.au) gets to that mile for the first time in the Group 1 but given his two attempts at 1400m were victories in majors, he must be hard to beat.
He’ll face competition from the highly touted kiwi filly Legarto ($7), lead up winner Elliptical ($8) and Sandown Guineas filly See You In Heaven $11).
Another New Zealander Mr Maestro ($26) could well back up and run a good race after showing he was well up to that level in the Spring.
The Blamey Stakes (1600m) for the older brigade will have some promising younger horses as well as well-known foe.
Old So Si Bon ($17) is there to try and win another group race but he will face Gentleman Roy ($3.80) off his rather unlucky result at Sandown in the Orr, Smokin’ Romans ($17) is fitter now given he comes off a top Melbourne Cup campaign, Pounding ($6) chases four on the bounce and Hezashocka ($9) goes first up after placing in the Champions Stakes.
There is a Listed 1000m sprint for the babies, some of whom could progress onto the Thoroughbred Breeders three weeks later and maybe even to Sydney. With Lindsay Park having a nice trot with the juveniles, Princess Duhallow will take plenty of interest.
A non-black type feature is the Inglis Sprint (1200m) worth a lot of money. Chances everywhere could come from the likes of Brudenell ($26) and Citizenship ($15) down from Sydney, Winnertakesitall ($26) off a nice campaign and Sejardan ($15) trying his luck down the straight once more.
