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), The Autumn Sun (2018)
TALKING POINTS
* Dalasan is aiming to make it back-to-back favourites to win the races after The Autumn Sun saluted for Chris Waller last year.
* No filly has won the Classic since Surround in 1976
* Queensland-trained Alligator Blood is aiming to be the fifth, and first since Helmet in 2011, to win the Guineas Prelude-Guineas double
* Alligator Blood’s sire All Too Hard won the Caulfield Guineas in 2012
WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING:
“His first-up run was everything we could have asked for, other than winning. And then we won at Flemington so we should be here” – Soul Patch’s trainer Ken Keys
“He’s done everything right and he’s had a pretty faultless preparation. This (drawing barrier 18 of 19) might be the first hiccup he’s had in the whole preparation so let’s hope he can overcome it” – Dalasan’s trainer Leon Macdonald.
“He’s a very relaxed horse. I think the blinkers might just help him focus up when he needs to. The blinkers won’t be any hindrance at all. We know what he’s capable of and I’m looking forward to taking him around on Saturday” – Dalasan’s jockey Hugh Bowman
“He’s an on-pacer. That’s a big advantage for him to draw that gate (barrier one). He races up on the speed. He won’t have to spend a penny. He ran very well in the lead-up, the prelude, the other day. We’re just looking forward to seeing him go over the mile” – Adelaide trainer David Jolly on Roccabascerana.
