CAULFIELD GUINEAS
1600m, $2 million, three-year-olds, set-weights
HISTORY
* First run in 1881 when won by Wheatear
* Group One from 1979
* Run at Flemington 1940-43
NOTABLE WINNERS
* Sweet Nell (1903), Heroic (1924), Ajax (1937), Tulloch (1957), Vain (1969), Sobar (1972), Luskin Star (1977), Manikato (1978), Soverign Red (1980), Grosvenor (1982), Mahogany (1993), Redoute’s Choice (1999), Lonhro (2001), Weekend Hussler (2007), All Too Hard (2012), Press Statement (2015)
TALKING POINTS
* Favourite The Autumn Sun is aiming to become the first horse to win the Golden Rose-Caulfield Guineas double since the Golden Rose became Group One in 2009
* Oohood is attempting to become the first filly to win the Classic since Surround in 1976
* Native Soldier is aiming to be the fifth, and first since Helmet in 2011, to win the Guineas Prelude-Guineas double
WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING:
“We’re very aware that some Sydney horses struggle at Caulfield for the first time but we’d already thought about that six weeks ago. He’s done a lot of galloping left-handed and this morning was just to give him a look at the lay-out of the track and get familiar with the place” – The Autumn Sun’s trainer Chris Waller
“He rolled out some good sectionals late and he’ll enjoy the step up to the mile while the soft draw will help” – Mr Exclusive’s trainer Matthew Brown
“Hopefully he’ll quicken away around the corner and put a margin on them and hopefully The Autumn Sun can’t run him down” – Native Soldier’s jockey Ben Allen
