Back Yourself!
Sign-up and start betting with Ladbrokes in 2 minutes!
Back A Winner with Neds!
Sign-up and start betting with Neds in 2 minutes!
Daily Racing Specials!
Sign-up and bet with Australia's best new bookmaker!
#1 Ranked New Bookie
Sign-up and bet with Australia's #1 ranked new bookmaker!
Best Of The Best Odds!
Bet With Palmerbet and get Paid Top Fluc or Top Tote!
Massive Odds on All Races!
Sign-up and start betting with PlayUp in 2 minutes!
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Search
 
Image: Bruno Cannatelli
Dalasan will take on Queensland star Alligator Blood and top New Zealand three-year-old Catalyst at Flemington

Despite one of the potential headline acts taking a different path, the Group Three C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington still has plenty of star power from across Australasia and looms as an exciting entree to the Australian Guineas.

Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth was not an acceptor on Wednesday for Saturday’s 1400m race for three-year-old colts and geldings, with connections instead opting to give the valuable colt a crack at the Group One weight-for-age Futurity Stakes a week later.

But the traditional lead-up to the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) two weeks later still features a small but select field of eight, with Queensland star Alligator Blood and top New Zealand three-year-old Catalyst to meet for the first time.

That pair are challenging for favouritism while multiple Group winner Dalasan will be out to upstage them and his Adelaide-based co-trainer Leon Macdonald is looking forward to the challenge and has faith in the colt’s ability.

Dalasan was second to Alligator Blood when they first clashed in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) last spring before finishing fifth after a wide run in the Caulfield Guineas when Alligator Blood was chased down by Super Seth in the final stride.

“I think it’s a very hard race and we’re looking forward to the clash,” Macdonald said.

“You go back to the Caulfield Guineas Prelude, maybe Dalasan should have won that.

“Alligator Blood has been very good since then. He’s a very good horse and then you’ve got the New Zealander thrown in there as well.

“It’s against top-class horses obviously but we’re hopeful that things go right for us and if they do, I’m sure he’s very well suited at Flemington. So we go in there hoping.”

To be ridden for the first time by Ben Melham, Dalasan has two wins and a luckless second from three Flemington appearances and has the Australian Guineas as his first major target before decisions are made on the rest of his program.

Catalyst, Alligator Blood and Dalasan occupy the top three lines of Guineas betting, with Saturday’s race an important pointer.

“I think there’s a real story to be told there, how the three of them measure up,” Macdonald said.

“I’m sure they are all good horses.”

Dalasan closed strongly late when a first-up third to Super Seth on a wet track in the Manfred Stakes (1200m) last Saturday week, with Macdonald believing the colt got too far back but was delighted with the way he finished off.

 
*Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly.
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Featured News

FREE BETS – Claim $1000’s in Bonus Bets at the TOP Betting Sites

We take a look at the BIGGEST and BEST Free Daily Racing Offers and Betting Promotions from Australia’s leading online...

Golden Slipper Likely Field – 2024

The biggest two-year-old race of the year will jump this Saturday in arguably one of the best fields in recent...

Former trainer handed a five-year ban for pulling stewards pants down

Former trainer Todd Balfour has been handed a five-year disqualification by Racing SA stewards after a misconduct incident at the...

Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant passes away

Verry Elleegant, one of the great mares in the history of Australian racing, has died while giving birth to her...

Watch 📺 Jockey banned from all racing premises over ride

Jockey Dylan Kitts has been penalised with a disciplinary officer exclusion directive due to non-compliance with an inquiry regarding his...

Group 1 winner returns positive swab

Racing Victoria stewards are investigating a positive swab from Group 1-winning mare Prowess, the racehorse trained by Roger James and...

Alligator Blood injured, career in doubt

Cult galloper Alligator Blood may have run his last race, with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott confirming the star galloper had...

Nikita Beriman returns to the saddle

July 1, 2023 to January 26, 2024 … that period represents the just shy of seven months that Nikita Beriman...

Australia's Best Betting Sites

New Betting Sites Australia + Top List Bookmaker Apps $$$

Betting in Australia has never been more popular thanks to a large increase in new betting Agencies and Apps available...

Top 10 – Funniest Race Horse Names

Horse racing. Known as the ‘Sport Of Kings’, an industry worth billions, a very serious business…but to some, it’s a...

Best Horse Betting Sites in Australia

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps and Betting Sites – March 2024

We take a look at the best online betting apps to bet on horse racing in Australia for the month...

Golden Slipper

The Golden Slipper is one of the biggest and most prestigious horse races in Australia. Taking place each April at...

Australian Bookmaker Reviews – Online Bookie Ratings $$

Which bookmaker should you bet with? We Review each of the leading online Australian Bookmakers and rate them in order...

 
 
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au